RIO DE JANEIRO — Sporting and public health officials sought once again to allay fears about the mosquito-borne Zika virus on Tuesday, saying that after hosting 44 test events with 7,000 athletes they had no reported cases of foreigners contracting the virus.
Still, Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada did not rebuke the string of international athletes who have said they are considering skipping the Games over the virus.
“I don't think it's time for us to put pressure on athletes," he said at a news conference, adding that "our job and our mission is to make sure that athletes find Rio a safe city to compete and to celebrate their victories.