Two people on board chartered flight to Australian Open test positive for Covid-19 with ALL passengers – including 24 players – to be placed in isolation and not allowed to train
- Covid-19 measures surrounding the Australian Open have been intensified
- Two passengers on board a flight to the tournament have tested positive
- It has been confirmed one was a participant however not one of the players
- A total of 24 players were on the flight and have now been impacted
Two people on a chartered flight for the Australian Open have tested positive for Covid-19, local health authorities said.
Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement on Saturday a crew member and an Australian Open participant who is not a player have been taken to a health hotel after returning positive tests.
Players began arriving in the country on Thursday ahead of a two-week quarantine period, during which they are allowed out of their rooms to practise for five hours a day.
Two passengers inside one of the planes taking people to the Australian Open have tested positive for Covid-19, though it has been confirmed neither person is a competitor
However the players and support staff on the affected flight have been deemed close contacts and will not be allowed out to train.
‘All remaining 66 passengers on the flight have been determined to be close contacts,’ the statement said.
‘Any players and support people will not be able to leave quarantine to attend training.
This week flights ferrying players, including defending champion Novak Djokovic, have arrived
‘Upon arrival to Australia all players are immediately placed in a secure quarantine environment for 14 days under the authority of Covid Quarantine Victoria and will undergo a more rigorous testing schedule than for most returning travellers.’
Tennis Australia said in a statement 24 of the affected passengers were players.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: ‘We are communicating with everyone on this flight, and particularly the playing group whose conditions have now changed, to ensure their needs are being catered to as much as possible, and that they are fully appraised of the situation.
‘Our thoughts are with the two people who tested positive on the flight and we wish them well for their recovery.’
Tournament organisers spent several months negotiating an arrangement that was acceptable to local and national government agencies regarding the admission of more than 1,000 tennis players and associated personnel to Australia.
The Australian Open begins on February 8 in Melbourne.
As revealed by Sportsmail Andy Murray (in red) has tested positive for Covid-19 after showing minor symptoms and is now facing a struggle to play in the tournament despite isolating