Australian Open thrown into chaos as 23 players travel on a charter flight to Melbourne with Covid-infected passengers on board – with nearly 50 participants now in heavy quarantine
- Nearly 50 Australian Open contestants plunged into hard closing
- A passenger on a flight from Abu Dhabi tested positive for coronavirus
- The update comes after two infections were reported during the Los Angeles flight
The Australian Open was thrown into further chaos after 23 players boarded a charter flight with a Covid-infected passenger on board in Melbourne, taking the number of participants in the hard finish to 47.
The infected passenger, who is not a participant in the tennis event, arrived from Abu Dhabi on January 15 at 08.20am.
There were 64 people on the plane, including 23 players.
“All passengers on the flight have been quarantined in hotels,” the Australian Open said in a statement.
The Covid-19 patient, who was tested negative for coronavirus before the flight, was taken to a health hotel.
Tennis players, coaches and officials arrive at a hotel in Melbourne on Friday for a 14-day quarantine
Victoria Azarenka is one of nearly 50 tennis players who are in a tough closing battle. She is pictured this week during her flight to Australia
“The 23 players on the run cannot leave their hotel room for 14 days and until they are medically cleaned,” reads a statement.
“They can’t practice.”
The update on Saturday night comes hours after it was revealed that two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is among 24 players restricted to their hotel rooms after two positive coronavirus tests emerged from their charter flight.
The Victorian government’s Covid-19 quarantine Victoria (CQV) has confirmed that an air crew member and an Australian Open participant who is not a player tested positive after arriving on the Los Angeles flight on Friday morning.
The two were transferred to a ‘health hotel’.
“All the remaining 66 passengers on the flight are determined to be close contacts,” the CQV statement said.
Australian Bio Security staff are seen entering flight EY460 with tennis players and their support teams taking part in the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
‘Any players and supporters can not leave the quarantine to attend training.
“Players are supported to gain access to equipment for their hotel rooms to help them maintain their fitness during this time.”
Players were originally given an exemption to have their quarantine hotel practiced for up to five hours a day, but an email from Tennis Australia confirmed that everyone on board the flight would now be in a hard lock.
The email reads: ‘Unfortunately we have been informed by the health authorities that two people on your flight from LAX, who arrived on Friday 15 January at 05.15, returned positive COVID-19 PCR tests on their arrival in Melbourne .
‘The chief health officer checked the flight and determined that everyone on board must isolate themselves and be confined to their rooms for the 14-day quarantine period.
The update on Saturday night comes just hours after it was revealed that two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is among 24 players restricted to their hotel rooms after two positive coronavirus tests emerged from their charter flight.
“We know this is not how you suggested you start preparing for the AO, but our entire team is here to support and do everything in our power to get you through this.”
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley later issued a statement saying the 24 players who were on the run would not be able to leave their hotel rooms for 14 days and until medically cleared.
“We are communicating with everyone on this flight, and especially the playgroup whose conditions have now changed, to provide as much as possible for their needs and that they fully assess the situation,” Tiley said.
In addition to Azarenka winning the title in 2012 and ’13, American Sloane Stephens and Japanese star Kei Nishikori were also on the run.
Nishikori had a coronavirus in August.
Negative tests had to be delivered on all passengers within 72 hours of departure.