MELBOURNE – Some players preparing for the Australian Open will have to isolate themselves until they return a negative test for COVID-19, after a person working at one of the tournament’s quarantine hotels tested positive for the virus.
Daniel Andrews, the political leader of the state of Victoria, called a news conference early on Wednesday to announce the case and asked anyone with symptoms in Melbourne to get tested.
Andrews said the case could have an impact on some of the six tuneup tournaments that are taking place this week before the Australian Open, with any player, coach or manager who has been quarantined at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Melbourne considered casual contacts of the 26 a one-year-old infected man and should be isolated until the test is negative.
The hotel advertises that it has 550 rooms, including 25 premium suites, so potentially hundreds of people could be involved. Tracking the positive case can test the determination of players who recently came out of two weeks of quarantine and give ammunition to critics of the decision to allow people to fly from around the world to the Australian Open.
“It could affect tomorrow’s game at the prep event,” said Andrews. “At this stage, there is no impact on the tournament itself.”
The Australian Open is scheduled to start on Monday, with up to 30,000 spectators expected daily at Melbourne Park under guidelines that allow up to 50% of capacity.
The Australian Open organizers did not immediately know how many players would have to isolate.
Everyone arriving in Australia must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine in accordance with the COVID-19 pandemic regulations. The Australian Open used three hotels in Melbourne to quarantine most players and had other secure accommodation and facilities in Adelaide, South Australia, for some of the biggest stars, including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The infected person tested negative on his last day at the hotel on Friday, but later tested positive and has been working with government and health officials to track contacts.
“This is a case,” said Andrews. “We are well trained and well trained in what to do.”
He said he was giving a news conference and announcing restrictions, which require the use of facial masks inside the home, “through great caution.”