January 18 According to a report by Australia.com, the Australian Open (hereinafter referred to as the Australian Open) has suffered another setback in recent days, with the appearance of a fifth contestant who tested positive for COVID-19, forcing another 25 players to be strictly quarantined.
Before the official game began, 72 players had been quarantined in hotel rooms.
It is reported that on the evening of the 17th local time, the Virginia COVID-19 quarantine agency announced that the fifth player to participate in the Australian Open had tested positive for COVID-19.
His chartered plane took off from Doha and arrived in Melbourne on the 16th.
This means that all three Australian Open charter flights have tested positive for COVID-19.
Previously, people on the planes that took off from Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi have also tested positive.
The total number of players quarantined in hotel rooms has reached 72.
During the next 14 days of quarantine, the players can only stay in the room and cannot participate in five hours of training a day.
Despite the turmoil before the start, Terry, the director of the Australian Open, ruled out the possibility of delaying the Australian Open Grand Slam.
In a statement, he said that he was communicating with the players in quarantine to meet their needs to the greatest extent.
Governor Andrew of Victoria also said he was confident in the hotel isolation model in Victoria.
At the same time, the Virginia COVID-19 quarantine agency warned that it would adopt a zero-tolerance attitude towards violations by people related to the Australian Open.
Victoria’s Covid-19 quarantine commissioner Kasar said the police force at the quarantine hotel has been increased as some restricted players and logistics personnel have appeared “challenging behaviors”.
Cassar warned that violators could be fined up to A$20,000 or transferred to the General Care Hotel, where a police officer was stationed outside their door.
Some players in strict lockdown have called for the postponement of the start date of the Australian Open on February 8 to ensure that they have enough time to prepare.
