Two other Australian Open players tested positive for COVID-19, government officials said on Wednesday, as officials discussed who would pay the tournament quarantine bill.
Victoria State Police Minister Lisa Neville said two players and a non-playing Australian Open participant were responsible for three new infections reported on Wednesday.
A total of 10 people associated with Grand Slam, including four players, have tested positive for the virus.
There has been some confusion about the exact figures, with the results of the authorities’ tests being later reclassified as “viral spread” of previous infections.
Viral shedders are not contagious.
Neville said the authorities are “very confident” that one of the two new player infections was a case of viral spread.
“Of the other two, it is less clear that they are losing. This will be resolved, and this is a player and a support person,” Neville told reporters.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said two players who tested positive on Tuesday also had a virus.
More than 70 players and their companions are confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days and are unable to train for the Australian Open from 8 to 21 February, after passengers on three charter flights returned positive tests.
The authorities disbursed huge funds to transport more than 1,200 players, coaches and officials on 17 charter flights to Australia for the first Grand Slam of the year.
Tiley said the quarantine costs could exceed A $ 40 million, part of which would be covered by the state government of Victoria.
“The state government is supporting and helping this,” he told 3AW radio on Wednesday.
Neville contested this.
“I have already confirmed three times that today it is fully funded by the Australian Open,” she said.
“The taxpayer is not contributing to the hotel quarantine program (Australian Open).”
Several players complained about the conditions, provoking a strong reaction from the Australians, who criticized the players for being “entitled”, even with thousands of citizens of the country being held abroad.
In the 28th of the Kazak women’s world, Yulia Putintseva complained about a rat infestation in her quarantine and said that her bedroom windows would not open.
Later, she posted a video on Twitter of mice in her room.
in fact there are many of them! Not even 1 in my room now🤦🏼🤦🏼️ pic.twitter.com/uUaicOhoB5
– Yulia Putintseva (@PutintsevaYulia) January 19, 2021
Tiley said on Tuesday that “the vast majority” of players support Australia’s strict protocols.