Second Australian Open overseas charter flight records positive COVID-19 case
A second overseas charter flight of players and participants arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open has recorded a positive COVID-19 case.
A passenger on-board a charter flight that arrived in Melbourne at 8.20am on January 15 from Abu Dhabi has tested positive.
The passenger is not a player and has been transferred to a health hotel to undertake a 14-day quarantine period. The passenger tested negative to their pre-departure test.
It’s the third positive case found across two charter flights of participants and players arriving in Australia for the Australian Open.
While there had been rumours online of a positive coronavirus test from a passenger on an Australian Open charter flight into Adelaide, authorities clarified in a statement late into the night that this wasn’t the case.
“SA Health has confirmed that there is no one who has an active COVID-19 infection in the entire tennis cohort based in Adelaide,” the Australian Open said on Twitter. “Testing will continue on a daily basis.”
In its second statement for the night, Australian Open organisers confirmed that 23 of the passengers on-board the second affected flight were players.
It means a total of 47 players are now unable to train ahead of the tournament as the strict quarantine measures are enforced.
Earlier in the day a flight from the US with 24 players on-board had two people test positive to COVID-19 after arrival into Melbourne. Neither were players and both had tested negative in their pre-departure tests.
A spokesperson for COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria said all remaining 63 passengers on the flight from Abu Dhabi must also undertake two weeks in quarantine and will be unable to train.
“All remaining 63 passengers on the flight have been designated close contacts. Players and support people will be unable to access training and must undertake a standard 14-day quarantine period.
“Players are being supported to access equipment for their hotel rooms to help them maintain their fitness during this time.
