This year's World Triathlon sprint and relay championships have been called off due to a surge in COVID-19 infections in Bermuda.

The event was scheduled for October 15-17 in Bermuda, where COVID-19 cases are at their peak.

The Atlantic island has recorded 4218 COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths since the pandemic began, according to a Reuters tally.

Governing body World Triathlon and the Bermuda Local Organising Committee said in a joint statement that they used a tool provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to conduct a risk assessment of the event amid the changing conditions.

"The analysis considered the island's recent spike in COVID-19 infections in addition to the Bermuda Hospital's elevated COVID-19 patient intake, and the organising committee in consultation with World Triathlon made the decision not to proceed with the October event," the statement said.