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Arriving at Melbourne Airport with tennis equipment
Photo: Asanka Ratnayake / Getty Images
Several positive corona tests after two charter flights to the Australian Open have far-reaching consequences for 47 accompanying tennis professionals.
As the responsible authorities announced, a strict 14-day quarantine has been ordered for all passengers and the crew.
Therefore, as originally planned, the athletes are not allowed to leave their hotel room for training for a maximum of five hours a day in order to prepare for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (from February 8th).
The strict quarantine corresponds to the customs to which every person entering the country must submit anyway - the five hours of training time are an exception for the Australian Open participants.
According to the organizers, the people on the flight from Los Angeles who tested positive were a member of the crew and “a passenger who is not a player”.
According to media reports, it should be a coach.
Both had given a negative test in the run-up to the flight, a total of 79 people were on board, 24 tennis professionals are affected.
Second flight from Abu Dhabi affected
“Our thoughts are with the two people who tested positive.
We wish them all the best in their recovery, "said Tournament Director Craig Tiley." We're communicating with everyone on this flight.
Especially the group of players to take their needs into account as much as possible. «
On another flight from Abu Dhabi, a passenger also tested positive; 23 participants in the tournament were affected.
The effort of the Australian organizers is enormous to get the tournament off the stage amid the pandemic.
Players and accompanying persons are currently flown in with a total of 18 charter planes.
The strict bubble concept is expected to cost over 25 million euros.
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mfu / sid / Reuters