Australian Open: Next COVID case in flight, tough sanctions for disregarding quarantine rules
Another positive COVID-19 case on flights to Down Under became known on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, violations of the quarantine regulations face severe penalties.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 17, 2021, 08:43 am
Probably nobody imagined the trip Down Under like this. With flights with very little occupancy in order to be able to guarantee the minimum distances at all times, a good 1200 players, supervisors and television staff have now arrived in Melbourne. While some are allowed to train for at least five hours a day, it set the maximum penalty for almost 65 players: After four positive COVID-19 cases in their flights, they have to be in strict quarantine for two weeks and are therefore not allowed to leave the hotel room during this time.
Cuts that apparently not everyone wants to adhere to, as 7News.au reported on Sunday . According to this, a player should have disregarded the quarantine rules of the state of Victoria. The player, who was not named, faces a fine of up to $ 20,000. In addition, he could be transferred to a room with police protection if he again misconduct.
Police protection as a last resort
Correctional Director Victoria Emma Cassa said that the player "opened his door to talk to his training colleagues in the hallway." He should just take a cell phone instead of putting people here in danger, appealed Cassa, who also refers to harsher penalties: "What we have also considered today is that it is for those who persistently break the rules or are unwilling are to stay in their rooms, our other option would be to move people to the complex care hotel with a member of the Victoria Police on the doorstep. "
Meanwhile, the name of one of the people who tested positive on the flights became known. It should be about the coach of Bianca Andreescu Sylvain Bruneau. He said that he was extremely sad about this. "I am very sorry to inform you that I tested positive for COVID-19 when I arrived here in Melbourne after I took flight EY8004 from Abu Dhabi had traveled. "
Another 16 people in "hard" quarantine
Bruneau could not explain the positive test, he had meticulously paid attention to compliance with all safety regulations in the run-up to the flight and would only have tested negative for the corona virus only 72 hours before departure. "The rest of my team is negative and I sincerely hope that any further interference will be kept to a minimum." As a result of Bruneau's positive test, the number of contacts who have to go into a hard lockdown has increased from 47 to 63.
The Austrian doubles specialist Philipp Oswald told tennisnet.com yesterday, Saturday, what this "hard" quarantine looks like for the players, you can read the entire conversation with the veteran here.