With the start of the 2022 Australian Open tennis tournament fast approaching and stars arriving in Australia from across the world, the warnings of a super-spreader event have continued.
Several players, on arrival in Australia, have already returned positive COVID-19 results, leading to health experts calling for the event to introduce major crowd limitations or even completely shut the event out for fans.
Discussing the updated policies and management system for COVID-19 at the 2022 event, Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley, said the 2022 event may be harder to manage without mandatory two weeks of quarantine and a bubble for all athletes on arrival in Australia.
“The process of coming in is a 72-hour test before you get in, a negative test when you arrive, isolate until you get a negative result,” Tiley said.
“You have to show proof of that negative test to get your accreditation, and then there’s a whole bunch of protocol to coach the players on what they need to be doing.
“They’re well versed in doing this around the world.
“We are dealing with a variant that’s challenging because it’s highly infectious.
“Our challenge this year is going to be positive cases.
“We have modelled the potential of positive cases.
“There will be positive cases…
“Everyone who is coming in is vaccinated and there will be a small percentage, a very small percentage, that will have a medical exemption.
“So if any player, fan, workforce is on site here, you’re either vaccinated or you have a medical exemption that’s approved and you’re on the Australian Immunisation Register.
“That provides us with safety and an extra level of comfort on site,” he said.
Tennis Australia reportedly is firm on ensuring fans can attend the event in full capacity, with ticket sales reported to be strong at this stage, despite epidemiologists’ warnings.
University of South Australia professor, Adrian Esterman, said: “It seems the height of madness to have these major events where there’s a high chance of super-spreading.”
“But good news, if there is any, because they are outdoors, they’re less risky,” Esterman said.
