Australian Open still on track, Daniel Andrews says, with players at ‘relatively low’ risk of COVID infection

The Australian Open is unlikely to be cancelled as international players are only deemed to be at low risk of infection from a hotel quarantine worker who tested positive for COVID-19.

About 520 players and support staff who were quarantining at a Melbourne CBD hotel, the Grand Hyatt, are in isolation and will be tested immediately as a precautionary measure.

Australia’s Matt Ebden posted a photo to social media saying he had had the test early on Thursday and was awaiting results before the scheduled start of the year’s first grand slam on February 8.

Thursday’s matches at Open tune-up events at Melbourne Park were cancelled while Tennis Australia says it will make an announcement on Friday’s schedule.

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer professor Allen Cheng said the risk to players and their support staff was low.

The hotel worker, who was on the same floor as infected guests, worked his last shift on Friday and returned a positive result on Wednesday.

“I think it’s unlikely [players will have been infected] but we have asked for testing of all of the players and other people who have been in that hotel,” Professor Cheng said on Thursday morning.

“We think the risk to other guests at the hotel, so tennis players and their accompanying staff, is relatively low because they were in the rooms at the time as opposed to staff who were outside the rooms.

“That said, the last case to leave the hotel for the health hotel left on the 22nd so we’re now getting on to close to 14 days since that time.

“So we think that risk is relatively low so we’re testing them to be sure, and it’s precautionary.”

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Professor Cheng said it was “unlikely” the Open would be cancelled, but Premier Daniel Andrews warned it was an unfolding situation.

“The tournament proper should not be affected by this, [but] these things can change,” Mr Andrews said.

The Australian Open has become a point of contention for some in Victoria, who have been wary of the risks of flying a large number of international guests into Melbourne.

But Mr Andrews said the Victorian Government had done all it could to ensure the tournament could proceed in the safest way possible for players and the public.

“I think I have well and truly demonstrated that those connected to the Australian Open do not get special treatment,” he said.

The hotel worker’s two family members who he lives with have not tested positive at this stage.

Some 72 players were forced into hard quarantine for 14 days after positive tests following the 18 charter flights to Australia, with one player among those infected.

AAP/ABC