Australian Open 2021: Tennis Fans Banned From Venue Due To Covid Outbreak
There will be no fans at the Australian Open for at least the next five days after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews reinstated a form of lockdown on the city.
A total of 13 cases of Covid-19 have been identified as part of the outbreak centred on hotel quarantine at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, five of which were locally acquired.
Andrews said he hoped this “short, sharp circuit-breaker” would allow him to lift the restrictions after just five days, but in the meantime Victorians may only leave their homes to shop for essential goods, work or study if they cannot do so from home, to receive medical care or to exercise for a maximum of two hours per day.
However, elite sportspeople have been defined as “essential athletes”, meaning the Australian Open will not halt its progress, although it will put an end to the 20,000 fans who have been coming into Melbourne Park each day this week.