The day of this Thursday of the tournaments corresponding to the Melbourne Summer Series, including the ATP Cup, it is suspended. That, upon detection a positive from a worker at the Grand Hyatt hotel, where most tennis players stay and where all the staff had also been quarantined. As reported Herald Sun, the employee could have had contact with someone who was infected with the British strain of coronavirus. For the moment, about 600 people are isolated until they test negative for COVID-19. If strict protocol were applied and another quarantine was decreed for everyone, the Australian Open (from next Monday) would be in jeopardy.
At the Hyatt, tennis players such as Garbiñe Muguruza (in quarters in the Yarra Valley), Roberto Bautista and Pablo Carreño (who were going to play against Greece in the ATP Cup) or Carlos Alcaraz, who had a match against Thiago Monteiro after defeating David Goffin. Rafa Nadal, who still has back pain and was not going to be against Greece, went directly from Adelaida to the Crown. The players, considered “casual” contacts, have been told that they will pass the test starting at 09:00 local time at The View hotel and will not be able to leave their room until they have a negative result. In that hotel the contagion of Paula Badosa and her technician Javier Martí was also detected before, that were transferred to another establishment. In three flights that arrived in Melbourne there were positives (none of tennis players in the first tests) and 72 players had to endure strict isolation.
The State of Victoria, where the tournaments have been held since the beginning of the week, had 28 days without local cases of coronavirus. According to the information, the worker in question had a negative result in his last PCR test, on January 29. However, new tests were carried out today when presenting symptoms of COVID-19, as dictated by the protocols. Hours later the positive was confirmed.
Health Authorities have advised us that a Hotel Quarantine worker has tested positive for COVID-19.
Those associated with the AO who quarantined at the hotel now need to be tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result.
– #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 3, 2021
“This is a case. People don't need to panic. People don't need to be alarmed. Victorians know what to do and, as a State, we have proven to be very successful in managing these types of outbreaks “, explained in a press conference the Prime Minister of Victoria, Daniel Andrews.
But this positive will mean a reinforcement of measures in a country that had almost eradicated the virus. The use of masks inside the houses will once again be mandatory, there will be limitations in meetings and the return to work will be delayed, which was to reach 75% on Monday. The case ends a 28-day streak of zero community transmission in the state.
Nadal, get off safely
This situation leaves in the background the latest statements by Rafa Nadal, who for the #Vamos newscast acknowledged that it will be a safe drop for the tie against Greece (in case it is disputed). “Right now I don't feel good physically to play a team tournament of these characteristics”, confirmed the Balearic.