Victorian Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville has outlined Victoria’s hotel quarantine system for the Australian Open, saying it will be the “strictest” program for tennis in the world.
From 5pm on Thursday, 15 different charter flights will land in Melbourne bringing around 1,200 players, support staff and tennis officials who will enter one of three quarantine hotels.
The three hotels to be used for quarantine are the Grand Hyatt, the View on St Kilda Road and the Pullman at Albert Park.
“We are assuming that every single tennis player that arrives and their officials has the potential to be positive,” Ms Neville said.
“So, our program has be designed around that potential and how do we assure that if there is a positive case that there is no risk to the Victorian community.
“We have put in place the strongest, the strictest rules that apply for tennis across the world”.
Players will be required to test negative to COVID-19 before coming to Australia.
Some 1,200 players and coaching staff are set to begin arriving in Melbourne this week for the Australian Open but the strict COVID-19 protocols imposed by Victoria s government has prompted American John Isner to skip the year s first Grand Slam.
Rod Laver Arena
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Victoria, once the country s COVID-19 hotspot, said it was imposing the strongest protocols seen at any tennis tournament for those arriving on 15 chartered flights for the Feb. 8-21 event, which was delayed by three weeks due to the pandemic.
Players and staff must isolate for two weeks before taking part in warmup events at Melbourne Park, which is also the venue for the Australian Open, from Jan. 31.