Australian Open rocked by third COVID-affected plane, more players to isolate - The Age

The Australian Open has been rocked again after another person who flew into Melbourne with tennis players and staff from Doha tested positive to coronavirus on Sunday.

Qatar Airways flight QR7485 from Doha arrived into Melbourne 5.30am on Saturday, and is now the third Australian Open plane affected by a positive case.

All on board the flight will now need to complete a 14 day mandatory quarantine. It is not yet known how many players, coaches and support staff are affected.

There are now five COVID-19 cases connected with the Australian Open, with all positive virus cases taken to a Melbourne health quarantine hotel.

The news that a passenger on the flight from Doha had tested positive was tweeted by French professional tennis player Alexandre Müller late on Sunday.

"Unfortunately we have some bad news for you. We have just been informed by the health authorities that a person on your flight ... has returned a positive PCR test on arrival in Melbourne," the communication from Tennis Australia said.

"The Chief Health Officer (Brett Sutton) has reviewed the flight and has determined that everyone on board needs to isolate and will be confined to their rooms for the 14 day quarantine period.

Biosecurity and airport staff in PPE gather around a Qatar Airways chartered flight carrying tennis players and staff into Melbourne on Thursday.Credit:Getty Images

"We know this has a major impact on your preparations for the AO and the rest of the Aussie summer. We are here to do everything we can to mitigate this impact."

Tennis Australia has been contacted for comment.

It comes after two other flights into Melbourne were found to have had a total of four positive cases on board, forcing 125 people into isolation for 14 days.

Three of the confirmed cases travelled into Australia on a flight from Los Angeles - a crew member, a tennis coach and a member of a broadcast team. There are 62 close contacts on the flight, who will now isolate for 14 days.

After another flight from Abu Dhabi, a coach tested positive. There were 63 close contacts who are required to stay in their hotel room for two weeks.

Before news of the third affected flight was confirmed, at least 47 players had already been told they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms at all across the next two weeks while they complete isolation as close contacts of a confirmed case.

"Over the last 48 hours, it’s been really busy," said COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria's Emma Cassar.

"The rules of close contacts haven’t changed, and there’s no other way you can consider this. If you’re on a plane for 16 to 24 hours in air that circulates throughout the plane, you are a close contact."

“The program is set up to keep people safe. We will not be modifying the program or watering it down under any circumstances.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on the research around that UK strain, and if anything, we’ll be more cautious.”

Tennis Australia's chief medical officer Dr Carolyn Broderick was due to meet with affected players and staff over a zoom call at 9.45pm.

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2021-01-17 11:22:00Z
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