2 more Australian Open players test positive for COVID-19

Two more Australian Open players have tested positive for COVID-19, government officials said on Wednesday, January 20 as the government confirmed it would send the quarantine bill for the tournament to Tennis Australia’s desk.

Victoria state police minister Lisa Neville said two players and a non-playing Australian Open participant comprised 3 new infections reported on Wednesday.

A total of 10 people associated with the Grand Slam, including 4 players, have now tested positive for the virus.

There has been some confusion over the exact numbers, with authorities’ test results later being reclassified as “viral shedding” from previous infections. The viral shedders are not contagious.

Neville said authorities were “very confident” one of the two new player infections was a case of viral shedding.

“Of the other two, it’s less clear that they’re shedding. That will be worked through, and that’s one player and one support person,” Neville told reporters.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said two players reported to have tested positive on Tuesday were also viral shedders.

More than 70 players and their entourage are confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days and unable to train for the February 8-21 Australian Open after passengers on 3 charter flights returned positive tests.

Authorities have shelled out huge funds to fly over 1,200 players, coaches and officials on 17 charter flights to Australia to put on the year’s first Grand Slam.

Tennis Australia (TA) boss Tiley told radio station 3AW quarantine costs may exceed A$40 million, part of which would be covered by the state government of Victoria.

The huge expense and effort to fly in the players during the pandemic has angered some Australians, with thousands of the country’s citizens stranded overseas due to travel restrictions.

Neville was adamant taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the quarantine costs, prompting TA to row back and issue a statement saying tournament organizers would pick up the tab.

A number of players have complained about the hard quarantine, raising concerns they may be at a disadvantage to better-prepared rivals.

Daniel Vallverdu, coach of three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, said organizers needed to give preferential treatment to players unable to train for two weeks.

Kazakh women’s world No. 28 Yulia Putintseva complained again of mice in her quarantine hotel room. Police minister Neville promised more pest control but urged players not to feed the rodents. – Rappler.com