McLaren withdraws from Australian Grand Prix after crew member tests positive for virus

A British racing team has withdrawn from the upcoming Australian Grand Prix after announcing that a team member had been diagnosed with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

ESPN reported that McLaren Automotive informed race organizers of its decision on Thursday after an unidentified staff member showed signs of the virus and entered isolation.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation told the BBC in a statement that it was “currently in discussions with Formula 1, the [Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile] and the Department of Health and Human Services in relation to the broader implications of this test result.”

It is unclear whether the March 15 race will go on as planned, as many public sporting events around the world have been postponed or canceled in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, which has sickened more than 110,000 people and killed thousands.

Teams are expected to report to the track beginning on Friday, according to ESPN.

Australia has remained relatively low on the list of countries with reported cases of the disease. Just 126 cases had been reported by Australia’s government as of Thursday, along with three deaths.

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, who are currently in Australia on a film project, announced that they had tested positive for the virus late Wednesday.