One crew member among the two positive Covid tests to impact Australian Open quarantine program

One crew member among the two positive Covid tests to impact Australian Open quarantine program
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Two members on a chartered flight from Los Angeles test positive for covid-19

A flight chartered by Tennis Australia from Los Angeles for the Australian Open had two positive Covid cases. More than 60 players and officials on the chartered flight will have to face 14 days of hard quarantine. One of the two people who tested positive was a crew member and the other was a part of the Australian Open, but not a player.

The two members have been put in a health hotel away from the three Melbourne hotels used for the quarantine facilities. The players on the flight, deemed to be in close contact with the affected members will be confined to their hotel rooms and will not be allowed to train.

The government body responsible for the arrangements, stated that the Australian Open participant who tested positive, had a negative test before boarding the flight. “Australian Open participant” who tested positive had a negative test before boarding the flight. The aircrew member and the passenger have been interviewed and transferred to a health hotel as per normal processes for positive cases,” the spokesperson said.

“All remaining 66 passengers on the flight have been determined to be close contacts. Any players and support people will not be able to leave quarantine to attend training. The remaining flight crew all tested negative and were permitted to fly out, without passengers, directly to their home port. They left at 7am today,” he added.

We are running a hotel quarantine model to the highest standard: Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews

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The Australian Open 2021 commences from February 8

Amid the growing accusations against the Australian Open quarantine measures, Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews has defended the arrangements, stating that they were of the highest quality. “To suggest that the grand slam status of this tournament is somehow locked in forever is simply wrong, simply wrong,” he said.

Dan Andrews added that numerous cities were capable of holding and snap the chance of holding the Grandslam event. But the Australian Open organizers and the government were not going to allow that to happen under any circumstances.

“There’s been a bit of commentary that … apparently the grand slam status of the Australian Open is chiselled in stone. No it’s not,” Mr Andrews said. “There are literally dozens of cities around the world that would pay almost anything to have a grand slam at our expense. We’re simply not going to do that. We are running a hotel quarantine model to the highest standard,” he added.

Also Read: Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys among top stars missing at Australian Open 2021