Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[dajop]

I very much doubt that the hotels could actually service that number of people. And the Qld thing meant that many had to repeat their two weeks stay. The cap is meaningless if there are no hotel spaces and people to provide security.

In October, with Melbourne offline, there were 23,442 international traveller arrivals into Australia. although approximately 3600 from NZ, when the "quarantine free arrival" was introduced into SYD mid way during the month (-1600 into BNE which still required quarantine) so net in bound passengers, requiring quarantine was at least ~21,942.... So that's about 5000 per week.

https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/international_airline_activity_1020.pdf

 

[Must...Fly!]

Question then might be how many of those were residents who wished to return on a permanent basis. Instead of those who had left for a short period (bereavement, etc) or international arrivals here on necessary business (consular staff, critical infrastructure support, maritime crew change, etc)

 

[kamchatsky]

But we don't know the penalty they would have to have paid for cancellation, and no insurance. However, this is not a reason to risk the introduction of Covid.

Given that TA has spent so much additional money to host this event (exhausting $80m reserve), it is safe to say the cost of Not holding it would have been far greater. Most likely all the penalties from broadcasters worldwide, ATP, WTA etc.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I very much doubt that the hotels could actually service that number of people. And the Qld thing meant that many had to repeat their two weeks stay. The cap is meaningless if there are no hotel spaces and people to provide security.

Reduced international arrivals​

International arrivals will now have a weekly cap of 1505 in NSW; in Western Australia it will be 512 and in Queensland, arrivals will be capped at 500.

There is no change in Victoria, which is already operating at less than half of its capacity. South Australia will also keep its intake of 490 people each week. The ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania only have "bespoke arrangements" for arrivals, Mr Morrison said.
He said the arrival caps would automatically return to their previous levels on February 15.

So was reduced to 1505+ 1120+ 512 +500 +490 +425 (ignoring Tas) = 4552



The cap was higher, till just being lowered. So even allowing for Qld Grand Chancellor hiccup (which is actually now and not back under the 6000 odd cap) why would the hotels not been able to achieve the 6000 given that was the cap, and NSW by itself was another 1500 odd and as Qld was reduced that should have allowed for the current hiccup?.


Or do you believe that the previous quotas were not be achieved?

 

[love_the_life]

At least Tennis Au has recognised it is the body who is paying.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon Tennis Australia conceded “Tennis Australia is funding the AO [Australian Open] quarantine program"
“The Victorian Government support relates to ongoing discussions about funding for an extension to the agreement to host the AO in Melbourne and a range of other assets to help promote the city and the state, domestically and internationally,” the statement said.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm not a big fan of the event, and it is a slap in the face for Australians either "stuck" overseas or merely wanting to come home to visit family. But, can we dispense with the hysteria, please?

There was until recently a 6000 person cap a week for Australians coming home, so during the month of December it is entirely plausible that as many as 24,000 travellers arrived on Australian shores (including the author of this post) that could have "reintroduced covid". And even with reduced caps since the second week of January, it is still possible within the revised caps for 18,000 travellers (plus the AO contingent) to arrive in Australia this month. Yes, I get the hypocrisy about allowing in spoilt brats to hit a ball around court, but 1200 represents about 6% of total intake for the month, and this particular cohort will get tested more than the other 94% - both before and during their quarantine period. I'd say the risk is increased, but not quite as significantly as many make out.

The problem is that some seem to believe that despite the world outside of Australia mainly experiencing large infection surges that somehow the organisers were meant to achieve zero cases. Given the AO cohort are very mobile constantly visiting new regions and countries, how they expected that to have happened is just completely unrealistic. Cases were always going to occur.

• Cases per 1000 in HQ arrivals to date is 36.3 in Australia (Early on they were just quarantining and only the symptomatic got tested)
• Cases per 1000 HQ arrivals for the AO to date is 7.1 ( 14 day quarantine not yet up and so may increase, especially as daily testing will weed out all a cases)
• The new pre-flight tests meant that at least another 5/1000 were refused permission to fly

The issue was always not that some people would test positive, but that very tight protocols be used to minimise the risk of a local community case being being transmitted from the cohort.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

At least Tennis Au has recognised it is the body who is paying.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon Tennis Australia conceded “Tennis Australia is funding the AO [Australian Open] quarantine program"
“The Victorian Government support relates to ongoing discussions about funding for an extension to the agreement to host the AO in Melbourne and a range of other assets to help promote the city and the state, domestically and internationally,” the statement said.

So still no ‘Emperor has no clothes’ moment.

how disappointing!!!

we need more AFF drama.....

 

[Must...Fly!]

At least Tennis Au has recognised it is the body who is paying.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon Tennis Australia conceded “Tennis Australia is funding the AO [Australian Open] quarantine program"
“The Victorian Government support relates to ongoing discussions about funding for an extension to the agreement to host the AO in Melbourne and a range of other assets to help promote the city and the state, domestically and internationally,” the statement said.

So the state will pay via all sorts of back channel promotional/marketing grants

As we all knew would happen

 

[Pushka]

The issue was always not that some people would test positive, but that very tight protocols be used to minimise the risk of a local community case being being transmitted from the cohort.

I suspect the issues are two fold. First, the unfairness of bringing non citizens into Australia in such large numbers. Second, a false sense of security that a negative pre test really did mean for many, that chances of a positive were remote.
Actually three issues. The third being the media in its hunt for a headline.

 

[RooFlyer]

The media are just hyping it because there is literally nothing else happening that is media interesting in Australia right now virus related.

And then there is the great mouse drama! Two hotels now. But did she or didn’t she actually feed the mice? The people want to know!

This thing just keeps on giving. When does the tennis start, again?

 

[Lynda2475]

the unfairness of bringing non citizens into Australia in such large numbers

This is the main issue except that you missed "whilst locking out residents returning from significantly lower risk location of Sydney and failing to pull its weight wrt returning Aussies since 2nd wave ended".

Further the special treatment given to these brats in being able to leave HQ for 5 hours a day, when most returning Aussies dont even get a window that opens.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vic DHHS Media Release
20 January 2021

AO Salient parts.

Victoria has recorded three new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, all of which are in hotel quarantine.

Of the new cases, one is linked to the Australian Open in a support staff member of a player, one is a male in his 40s in international air crew, and one a male in his 50s who is a returned international traveller.

The total number of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases associated with the tournament is seven with a further three cases from today (two players and a non-player) that are still under review.

One previously reported case in a person associated with the tournament has been reclassified following a review by CQV.


So that is confirmed 7 cases (though one is a flight attendant) , with another 3 cases under review (ie waiting to be classified).

 

[dajop]

Question then might be how many of those were residents who wished to return on a permanent basis. Instead of those who had left for a short period (bereavement, etc) or international arrivals here on necessary business (consular staff, critical infrastructure support, maritime crew change, etc)

Well I know of at least 5 (including myself and my partner) who came back to Australia from Singapore to visit relatives at Xmas and will go back overseas this month or early next month. I also know of one person who relocated back to Melbourne from Europe, organised early December, travelled late December. Was I taking someone's spot who was trying to return permanently? I don't know.

But I have a theory, ex-Singapore, if you are willing to pay (although we redeemed many many many months ago, and my partner is top tier with the airline) then seats seem to be there sporadically - I've even seen $600 one way flights on Scoot, there is a way. I think the problem perhaps is more one for connecting passengers, as it's a risk for the passenger and/or the airline if things go pear shaped with quotas, where for those of us in a hub with direct flights, visiting Australia temporarily, then worst case scenario if we get bumped? We go home .... no quarantine, accommodation, visa or other issues.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vic DHHS Media Release
20 January 2021

AO Salient parts.

Victoria has recorded three new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, all of which are in hotel quarantine.

Of the new cases, one is linked to the Australian Open in a support staff member of a player, one is a male in his 40s in international air crew, and one a male in his 50s who is a returned international traveller.

The total number of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases associated with the tournament is seven with a further three cases from today (two players and a non-player) that are still under review.

One previously reported case in a person associated with the tournament has been reclassified following a review by CQV.


So that is confirmed 7 cases (though one is a flight attendant) , with another 3 cases under review (ie waiting to be classified).

The official 24 hr total reported today only has one case acquired overseas. So from the above report further three cases from today (two players and a non-player) that are still under review presumably that means of the three two will be shedders. That is unless they remain under review still.

So AO case total may now 8. 7 participants and 1 aircrew.

 

[tomlee1986]

The official 24 hr total reported today only has one case acquired overseas. So from the above report further three cases from today (two players and a non-player) that are still under review presumably that means of the three two will be shedders. That is unless they remain under review still.

So AO case total may now 8. 7 participants and 1 aircrew.

View attachment 238614

lets hope the AO wont turn into a super spreader event... (1 can only dream?)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

lets hope the AO wont turn into a super spreader event... (1 can only dream?)

Why dream?

The Harry Potter Stage Show is having live audiences again now in Vic. Should that be cancelled too? The office workers who are being allowed back into offices as well now at higher levels, and higher again too.

Are not the protocols in place so that everyone can more and more resume "normal" life in Covidsafe ways?

Sports is part of what makes Melbourne, Melbourne and Victoria, Victoria.

The more parts of the fabric of life that can be resumed in safe ways the better. That improves the mental and financial health of all, as well as just making life more enjoyable.

The more people that can get back to work the better, and that should include people working in the sports sector.

 

[tomlee1986]

Why dream?

The Harry Potter Stage Show is having live audiences again now in Vic. Should that be cancelled too? The office workers who are being allowed back into offices as well now at higher levels, and higher again too.

Are not the protocols in place so that everyone can more and more resume "normal" life in Covidsafe ways?

Sports is part of what makes Melbourne, Melbourne and Victoria, Victoria.

The more parts of the fabric of life that can be resumed in safe ways the better. That improves the mental and financial health of all, as well as just making life more enjoyable.

the harry potter cast does not have any covid cases atm, but AO has a few already... i do want sports back too as i am a sports fan including tennis.. but is it safe to bring so many overseas people just for 2 weeks for a sports event where the world is full of Covid cases is a thought i have a little reservations about...

bringing residents of australia back is 1 thing, as it is their home here in australia, but to bring a large contingent of sports stars and celebrities here just for an event when the world is literally full of covid cases out of control is i am uncertain about

 

[Pushka]

I believe that the SA Govt paid $40 million to have the tennis players camp out here. Heard from two sources.

 

[jakeseven7]

Sports is part of what makes Melbourne, Melbourne and Victoria, Victoria.

It is really Australia's event as well, its a grand slam and pulls in an incredible amount of tourism dollars for all states, not just Victoria of course. All the lead in events generate tens of millions of dollars before you even get to tourism knock ons pre and post the event.

So I understand why Australia has perservered in hosting it. We don't want to lose it and Asia has been sniffing around it for years and years looking for anyway to rip it away from us.

It is a bit of a gamble, but I have confidence in our ability to contain any leakage now from HQ in VIC, NSW, QLD (perhaps SA) so feel that its a gamble worth taking.

The tennis brat behaviour is amusing.
LOVING Novak's weird walkback this morning
What a tool.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

the harry potter cast does not have any covid cases atm, but AO has a few already... i do want sports back too as i am a sports fan including tennis.. but is it safe to bring so many overseas people just for 2 weeks for a sports event where the world is full of Covid cases is a thought i have a little reservations about...

bringing residents of australia back is 1 thing, as it is their home here in australia, but to bring a large contingent of sports stars and celebrities here just for an event when the world is literally full of covid cases out of control is i am uncertain about

There are discussions underway to have special quarantine arrangements for the agriculture sector so that they can get the workers that they need. There are already have been special arrangements for interstate quarantine for such workers.

WA allowed FIFO to be exempt from the intrastate travel restrictions, and has a special process to allow such travel. Alternatively they could have just shut down the mining industry!

Personally I am in favour of such measures to re-activate or maintain these and other sectors as long as it is done in an appropriate way . But there is no such thing as no risk.