Australian Open 2021: players, officials and officials forced into isolation after positive Covid test

Approximately 600 players, officials and referees were forced into isolation in Melbourne after a positive test was returned at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

The hotel was home to several people who are connected to the Australian Open – the person who tested positive was one of the support teams helping during the quarantine.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the news and said everyone at the hotel would have to isolate himself until he returned a negative test.

It was later confirmed that the game on Thursday at warming events in Melbourne Park would not take place.

“We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible,” said a statement in the Australian Open social feed.

“There will be no games in Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update to the schedule for Friday will be announced later today.”

Andrews added that “this is a case, there is no need for people to panic.”

“We proved to be a very successful state in managing this type of outbreak and problems.”

However, this is the first case acquired locally in Victoria in almost a month and information from the Victoria Government Health Department appears to contradict Andrews.

“An employee at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Quarantine tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19),” tweeted his official account.

“Anyone who has visited these exposure sites during the periods below should immediately isolate, have a coronavirus test (Covid-19) and remain isolated for 14 days.”

A 14-day isolation period would be a real obstacle to the Australian Open, which starts on Monday. The tournament was postponed three weeks from its normal January schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Including the ATP Cup and other warm-up events, 62 scheduled matches would take place in Victoria on Thursday.

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