Australian Open chaos: Players told to self-isolate after positive COVID-19 test, warm-up matches suspended

Shahida Jacobs 03 Feb 2021 4:31 PM

The build-up to the 2021 Australian Open has been thrown into chaos after a positive coronavirus test at one of the hotels.

Health officials confirmed on Wednesday that a worker at one of the quarantine hotels in Melbourne returned a positive coronavirus result.

As a result, authorities have informed between 500 and 600 players, support staff and officials to self-isolate until they return a negative COVID-19 test.

“There is a number of about 500, 600 people who are players and officials and others who are casual contacts,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“They will be isolating until they get a negative test and that work will be done tomorrow.”

Melbourne is currently staging six warm-up events ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam next week and Andrews confirmed Thursday’s play is likely to be affected.

“It may have an impact on tomorrow’s play, in the lead-up event, but at this stage there is no impact to the tournament proper,” he added.

“I must say, that is important to us but the issues we are most focussed on are much broader and that is about public health and public safety and that is why we have really pounced on this very quickly.”

We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible.

There will be no matches at Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update on the schedule for Friday will be announced later today. #AusOpen

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 3, 2021