COVID-19 and Tennis

[Pushka]

Many have noted that ND seemed to believe the rules did not apply to him and sought to get round them so that it was good riddance as he didn't respect the rules. A thought occurred to me that a number of people choose not to check in to venues. Perhaps they are similar and don't believe the rules apply to them either. Now I couldn't give a fig about whether they check in or not as it's people's choice except if people are respecting the rules one would expect that people would check in. YMMV and I will duck now. Not getting into an argument it was just an observation.

That's a good point. I guess I avoid doing it now as I know that SA Health don't use them anymore, they don't advise places that are hot spots and haven't conducted tracing interviews. So I don't see the relevance anymore. Could NJ argue he doesn't see the point of vaccination anymore?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Many have noted that ND seemed to believe the rules did not apply to him and sought to get round them so that it was good riddance as he didn't respect the rules.

I've read somewhere that his rule breaking (on the form, or the lack of vaccination upon entry) wasn't part of the ministers decision, not because it was to be ignored, but from a legal standpoint it would be very shaky to use that argument, given that ultimately he was allowed to enter Australia despite breaking who knows how many rules.

Knowing the level of legal support NoVax had, the Minister's decision had to be 100% back-able, and therefore the "I'm minister, I can make decision, suck it up princess" was their strongest position, and they effectively conceded on his rule breaking, just to make the process quicker. Now I'm no legal expert so the above may not be true at all.

 

[MARTINE]

As the vaccination rates rise and as more data become available that show vaccinations do not significantly reduce transmission and as more people get immunised by the wild virus, it is becoming clearer that the unvaccinated are not posing a risk to other people.


While is true that significant proportion of the ones in ICU are not vaccinated and might therefore unnecessarily affect the availability of ICU/hospital to the vaccinated, the data is clear that the year on year mortality from any cause in Australia in the last 2 years of the pandemic has been less than the 2015-2019 years - especially in winter.
So I think the public health risk from the unvaccinated is currently being overstated.

There are also significant pressures on the health system from Non--Covid patients whose personal lifestyles and choices cause them to drain the health resources at a massive rate. These have not gone away because of Covid.

Increasingly it is "because I got the jab you must too" . Beware this slippery slope.

Agreed
Although….
You only get to this ever diminishing and likely negligible risk posed by one person (such as the tennis player in question) who is unvaccinated - because - over 90% of us went ahead and did so in the first place.

 

[kyle]

Agreed
Although….
You only get to this ever diminishing and likely negligible risk posed by one person (such as the tennis player in question) who is unvaccinated - because - over 90% of us went ahead and did so in the first place.

Which we're then back to the point of most of us would have voluntarily vaxxed for our own protection, and not extending caring whether someone else is or not.

 

[drron]

On the Channel 7 News tonight in Tasmania they had a former head of TA asking TA to come clean and how they could possibly had misled Novax when they had direct and clear notification from the Health minister that unvaxxed players would not be allowed in to the country.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

On the Channel 7 News tonight in Tasmania they had a former head of TA asking TA to come clean and how they could possibly had misled Novax when they had direct and clear notification from the Health minister that unvaxxed players would not be allowed in to the country.

Also Channel 7 Brisbane

 

[RooFlyer]

On the Channel 7 News tonight in Tasmania they had a former head of TA asking TA to come clean and how they could possibly had misled Novax when they had direct and clear notification from the Health minister that unvaxxed players would not be allowed in to the country.

And the reply from TA was ... ?

 

[Pushka]

And the reply from TA was ... ?

We can learn from our mistakes....sigh.

 

[MARTINE]

We can learn from our mistakes....sigh.

Sounds like Craig Tiley could have an opportunity as new tournament director for Novak’s Serbian Minor Slam

 

[MARTINE]

We can learn from our mistakes....sigh.

I just read this A-grade compost.

Tennis Australia board breaks silence to ‘commend’ Craig Tiley following Novak Djokovic saga

Board says holding a major international sporting event during a global pandemic ‘is profoundly demanding’

www.theguardian.com

If there has been a greater collection of content free weasel words I’d like to see it. Jane H saying all good.. nothing to see here… IMHO whenever some one has ‘the full support of the board’…well …you know how that usually ends

 

[get me outta here]

Albrechtsen doesn’t hold back in today’s Australian. She thinks it may have been handled badly.

 

[OATEK]

Many have noted that ND seemed to believe the rules did not apply to him and sought to get round them so that it was good riddance as he didn't respect the rules. A thought occurred to me that a number of people choose not to check in to venues. Perhaps they are similar and don't believe the rules apply to them either. Now I couldn't give a fig about whether they check in or not as it's people's choice except if people are respecting the rules one would expect that people would check in. YMMV and I will duck now. Not getting into an argument it was just an observation.

That's a good point. I guess I avoid doing it now as I know that SA Health don't use them anymore, they don't advise places that are hot spots and haven't conducted tracing interviews. So I don't see the relevance anymore. Could NJ argue he doesn't see the point of vaccination anymore?

When we say rules are rules, and you should obey them, it seems straight-forward. But QR check-ins are not really analogous to Visa entry requirements.

I think the overwhelming reaction I have seen and heard is that ND felt entitled to write his own standards for Visa entry (and TA encouraged him to do so). But QR codes for a 5 minute shop, when the definition of a close contact requires 4 hours of contact inside, does have some inherent contradictions.

Anyone who has a relative, in-law, or close friend doing the Visa yo-yo (going offshore regularly to renew and judging when safe to return) would find it hard to have sympathy for ND.

 

[get me outta here]

Hopefully we can ‘learn from these mistakes’ too :

 

[jb747]

On the Channel 7 News tonight in Tasmania they had a former head of TA asking TA to come clean and how they could possibly had misled Novax when they had direct and clear notification from the Health minister that unvaxxed players would not be allowed in to the country.

Presumably TA thought that it would be embarrassing for the government to have to toss Novax, so they'd cave in and give him 'special' consideration. Which they obviously did....

 

[Pushka]

Presumably TA thought that it would be embarrassing for the government to have to toss Novax, so they'd cave in and give him 'special' consideration. Which they obviously did....

Agree. Maybe they also expected support from the Victorian Govt but that didn't happen either. Anyway the tennis is good, everyone just happy it's dusted and hoping to win.

 

[Happy Dude]

Oh I agree competely. He's an dilusioned idiot and tried to game the system. Notwithstanding that, he's one of the GOATs of tennis.

Presumably the same rationale will be applied to Margaret Court.

 

[MARTINE]

Hopefully we can ‘learn from these mistakes’ too :

 

[maccaisking]

On the Channel 7 News tonight in Tasmania they had a former head of TA asking TA to come clean and how they could possibly had misled Novax when they had direct and clear notification from the Health minister that unvaxxed players would not be allowed in to the country.

They closed their eyes and hoped for the best?!

Others got in under similar circumstances, I think Novak may have as well if he hadn't taken to Social Media announcing that he has a special exemption to play.

 

[Lynda2475]

A triple vaxed person wearing a mask not checking in for a 5 min shop is in no way similar to the Novak situation.

Given the current definition of close contact, the shopper would not be required to do anything other than monitor for symptoms (no testing, no iso) if there at the same time as a covid positive person; so checking into a supermarket that does not require vaccination to attend does nothing further to reduce covid risk right now. Just assume if you go out you will be exposed.

By being vaccinated, wearing a mask and praising good hand hygiene they have taken reasonable steps to prevent themselves and others from covid risk.

Whereas Novak is:

• Unvaccinated so at greater risk of getting and spreading covid
• Has demonstrated that he does not comply with health requirements when actually positive and infectious - seen out and about unmasked, posing for photos with children
• Lied on border control document about not having travelled
• Was aware of the need to be vaccinated to enter Australia as a non-citizen and expected special treatment
• Has greater influence via his social media to spread anti-vaccination sentiment

Novak was not asked to do anything more than any other player, spectator or worker at the AO that is to be vaccinated to attend.

 

[get me outta here]

It all seems to be disappeared.