More Than 70 Australian Open Players to Isolate After Covid Case on Third Flight
CANBERRA (Dispatches) - Seventy-two Australian Open players are now confined to their hotel rooms after a positive coronavirus test result on a third flight bound for the tournament.
Twenty-five players - thought to mostly be qualifiers - on board the flight from Doha to Melbourne must isolate in their room for 14 days.
Heather Watson is one of 47 players who were already quarantining and some are frustrated by the confinement.
Tournament organizers said the players were "already in quarantine hotels”.
An Australian Open statement said: "One positive Covid-19 test has been returned from a passenger on a charter flight into Melbourne from Doha which arrived at 5.30am on 16 January.
"The passenger is not a member of the playing contingent and had tested negative before the flight.
"There were 58 passengers on the flight, including 25 players.”
At least three players said they might not have gone to the tournament if the rules had been made clear to them.
Organizers said the rules were clear, and the event would begin as planned on 8 February.
Twenty-five players - thought to mostly be qualifiers - on board the flight from Doha to Melbourne must isolate in their room for 14 days.
Heather Watson is one of 47 players who were already quarantining and some are frustrated by the confinement.
Tournament organizers said the players were "already in quarantine hotels”.
An Australian Open statement said: "One positive Covid-19 test has been returned from a passenger on a charter flight into Melbourne from Doha which arrived at 5.30am on 16 January.
"The passenger is not a member of the playing contingent and had tested negative before the flight.
"There were 58 passengers on the flight, including 25 players.”
At least three players said they might not have gone to the tournament if the rules had been made clear to them.
Organizers said the rules were clear, and the event would begin as planned on 8 February.