Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[kamchatsky]

You are probably trying to be funny.

NSW HQ prgram for overseas arrivals is fit for purpose. There have been some breaches (Clenaer, transport Driver who cised Berala outbreak) but its never got out of control the way Vic did back in July.

There was no need for AO to go ahead.

The argument that it would mean losing AO for good is a furphy. Even if somewhere else in asia hosted a tennis tournment in Jan because AO didnt go ahead, it wouldnt have been the AO, and in no way meant that Vic wouldnt be able to run it next year. In 1986 there was no AO.

To date all the AO has done is given Australia as a whole bad press internationally, highlight that Vic values $ over returning Aussies.

Ideally, there should be no AO at all this year, given that the Victorians in NSW are locked out, not to mention stranded Australians overseas.

However, if AO needs to be run because of significant financial implications ($100 million+), they may as run it in the state that is most open to other states, and has the best contact tracing team available.

AO actually had pandemic insurance, but expired at the end of last year. Talking about bad timing. If AO is not run this year, it would either mean bankruptcy of Tennis Australia (and lose AO completely), or the taxpayers coughing up the amount. Someone has to pay for this.

Next year's Australian Open not protected by pandemic insurance

Tennis Australia won’t be able to draw on pandemic insurance coverage for January’s Australian Open if the COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc on world sport.

www.theage.com.au

Australian Open facing huge losses after pandemic coverage expires

A Tennis Australia spokesman says that pandemic coverage "will not be viable to include for 2021"

www.insurancebusinessmag.com

 

[RooFlyer]

So in summary from that, all those in quarantine are being closely monitored to the extent that even if they open the door that they are found out.

Oh, that's OK then. We've got COVID brought in on the tennis charters, we've got breaches of quarantine ... Move along folks, nothing to see here , just another day in Victoria (who one would think would be rather sensitive to non essential introduction of the virus from overseas then quarantine breaches, given the tragic history there).

 

[Must...Fly!]

Ideally, there should be no AO at all this year, given that the Victorians in NSW are locked out, not to mention stranded Australians overseas.

However, if AO needs to be run because of significant financial implications ($100 million+), they may as run it in the state that is most open to other states, and has the best contact tracing team available.

AO actually had pandemic insurance, but expired at the end of last year. Talking about bad timing. If AO is not run this year, it would either mean bankruptcy of Tennis Australia (and lose AO completely), or the taxpayers coughing up the amount. Someone has to pay for this.

Next year's Australian Open not protected by pandemic insurance

Tennis Australia won’t be able to draw on pandemic insurance coverage for January’s Australian Open if the COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc on world sport.

www.theage.com.au

Australian Open facing huge losses after pandemic coverage expires

A Tennis Australia spokesman says that pandemic coverage "will not be viable to include for 2021"

www.insurancebusinessmag.com

[citation needed]

 

[Pushka]

Five positives from the AO cohort.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Five positives from the AO cohort.

I wonder what the preparedness documents outlined in terms of case number expectations

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Oh, that's OK then. We've got COVID brought in on the tennis charters, we've got breaches of quarantine ... Move along folks, nothing to see here , just another day in Victoria (who one would think would be rather sensitive to non essential introduction of the virus from overseas then quarantine breaches, given the tragic history there).

Actually with HQ yes it is just another day in Victoria and probably all locations that have HQ now in Australia. Everyone has lifted their game and that is a good thing.

I think that we have all read of enuough breaches of quarantine rules throughout Australia to know that people in quarantine will not always do what they need, to do or should do, for all sorts of reasons including thoughtless action as well as deliberate breaches (ie Alleged Perth quarantine breacher threatened to 'walk out' of hotel, called for help online or the essentail worker quarantining in Adelaide who had young lady "visit" him this fuelling an outbreak ), and as breaches go these were described as low level ones. Though ones that yes needed to be stamped out. That they were detected as they occurred and before any mixing could occur I personally see that as a reassuring as it means that the controls are working, and that good protocols are in place.

A player opened his door to try to have a conversation with a training partner down the hallway, while a non-player shouted Uber Eats to others on the floor and opened the door to "praise his great efforts".​

So the people that did it were detected, stopped before any possible transmission could occur and reminded what the consequences would be if they breach another rule.

And as for Covid Cases on incoming flights for the AO. Are you actually surprised that there were positive cases amongst the people that flew in? I would have been surprised if no positive cases were detected.

With 1200 people plus aircrews flying there have been so far 3 Covid Cases amongst the passengers and one amongst the aircrew. The planning has been to assume that everyone who arrives is infectious, but to also try and minimise the number of people who are infectious that do actually arrive. While we would all love zero cases that is not going to happen with a large cohort.

• Cases per 1000 in HQ arrivals to date is 36.3 in Australia
• Cases per 1000 HQ arrivals for the AO to date is 3.3 (Includes the two today including the latest case detailed just below) 14 day quarantine not yet up and so may increase) The new pre-flight tests meant that at least another 5/1000 were refused permission to fly.

Aircrew is separate, but stats on them are not known, and they have only been routinely tested very recently.

Move along folks, nothing to see here? Again you have an interesting way of looking at things. It is everything to see here, reassurance that things are working and a very public message as well to remind everyone to follow the rules.




New AO case. So 5 in total with 4 pax and 1 aircrew.

I note that they arrived early on the 16th, and that this result seems to have come out very late on the 17th. This may mean that as players are tested daily (which normal HQ does not do) that this result may well be from a Day 2 test.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I say fearful. Don't think the population would take too kindly to anything getting away from them.

Yes after the Second Wave the pendulum has swung to be on the overly cautious side.

At the end of the First Wave that there on the overly optimistic side that it was all mainly over (and yes the First Wave was. But the new strain got out lax HQ system from an overly into the worst positive demographic (High Ro from large and multiple households who also tend to for a variety of reasons avoid testing, and if tested avoid isolating) and things rapidly became overwhelmed as we all know.

 

[SydneySwan]

Oh dear Novak is not happy

Novak Djokovic issues list of demands for hard quarantine

The number of players confined to their rooms on Sunday evening swelled to 72 after it emerged an infected passenger had arrived into a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Saturday morning.

www.dailymail.co.uk

So how many homes in Mel and ADL have private tennis courts attached?

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear Novak is not happy

Novak Djokovic issues list of demands for hard quarantine

The number of players confined to their rooms on Sunday evening swelled to 72 after it emerged an infected passenger had arrived into a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Saturday morning.

www.dailymail.co.uk

So how many homes in Mel and ADL have private tennis courts attached?

And where the families are prepared to move out. I am so sick of wealthy sports people who are so out of touch with reality. AFL and cricketers are no better.

I read late last night that the high roller players who came to Adelaide were allowed 10 support people and flew in a private jet. I have no idea where I read this as it was late but it would have been either news, abc or nine news.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Oh dear Novak is not happy

Novak Djokovic issues list of demands for hard quarantine

The number of players confined to their rooms on Sunday evening swelled to 72 after it emerged an infected passenger had arrived into a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Saturday morning.

www.dailymail.co.uk

So how many homes in Mel and ADL have private tennis courts attached?

And this from the moron who ran the Adria tour - what would you expect....

 

[Must...Fly!]

Understand frustration about the discussion of the tennis but for those who believe in certain statutes of the constitution, it's rather distressing to see non-citizens who do threaten the spread of COVID-19 within Australia be facilitated in luxury hotels. While citizens within the country are stuck away from their homes, by the same government facilitating tennis players.

 

[Pushka]

Understand frustration about the discussion of the tennis but for those who believe in certain statutes of the constitution, it's rather distressing to see non-citizens who do threaten the spread of COVID-19 within Australia be facilitated in luxury hotels. While citizens within the country are stuck away from their homes, by the same government facilitating tennis players.

Interview today with Todd Woodbridge. The players got free flights. Free accommodation. Free food and a guarantee of $100,000 when they get to the first round.

Post automatically merged: Jan 18, 2021

If there is so little spread to talk of then the thread activity should reflect that. Conversations around the merit (or lack there of) of certain events should be had outside of here.

I'd suggest that there is concern that the virus might leak out if the players et al don't play by the rules and we know there are already many examples of that.

 

[blackcat20]

Interview today with Todd Woodbridge. The players got free flights. Free accommodation. Free food and a guarantee of $100,000 when they get to the first round.

Post automatically merged: Jan 18, 2021

I'd suggest that there is concern that the virus might leak out if the players et al don't play by the rules and we know there are already many examples of that.

Given some players don't seem to care (*cough* Joker *cough*), I think Victorians are right to be concerned.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Interview today with Todd Woodbridge. The players got free flights. Free accommodation. Free food and a guarantee of $100,000 when they get to the first round.

That's interesting. Good to know it's fully funded by Tennis Australia (or is claimed to be).

Who also received (continuing to receive?) jobkeeper payments.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Premier sets Novak, tennis brats straight

The No. 1 male tennis player in the world Novak Djokovic has been shut down after reportedly issuing a letter to Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley as the shambolic arrival of overseas participants continues.

www.news.com.au

 

[jakeseven7]

Premier sets Novak, tennis brats straight

The No. 1 male tennis player in the world Novak Djokovic has been shut down after reportedly issuing a letter to Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley as the shambolic arrival of overseas participants continues.

www.news.com.au

Hilarious, take that tennis brats

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Since the thread got split it’s been much more quiet. Less eyes I guess.

 

[Lynda2475]

Since the thread got split it’s been much more quiet. Less eyes I guess.

Proves that most Aussies care not about the event, only the covid risk it presents.

Doubtful the AO will bring the huge economic windfall that Andrews is banking on.

 

[serfty]

Doubtful the AO will bring the huge economic windfall that Andrews is banking on.

Once the 14 day's are over, players and/or their entourage¹ are free to roam and spend.

¹Those who continue to test negative to COVID-19

 

[dajop]

People are concerned bout the Covid risk, which is valid - but to put this into context, the event is bringing in approximately one week's worth of those returning to Vic (1200 for AO vs 1120 each week of "regular " travellers) and less than half of those (previously) returning to NSW in a week. The AO arrivals also are undergoing a much greater amount of testing than "normal" returned travellers. If this risk can't be managed successfully, I think there's the answer for increasing caps on arrivals, a definite no.

My personal hope is that will increase competency/experience in Victoria and give the government confidence to boost the numbers to the previously suggested 2000/week.