BREAKING NEWS: Players and staff at the Australian Open exempted from COVID-19 testing

 

Players participating in the 2023 Australian Open which is to take place in Melbourne from 16^th January 2023 have been exempted from COVID-19 testing. The Australian Open committee announced that there will be no testing for the COVID-19 virus at the Australian Open 2023.

Players at this year's Australian Open will not need to report positive COVID-19 results and will be allowed to continue competing if they are well enough.

DETAILS: https://t.co/fCvaBaI5Z9#9News pic.twitter.com/JA9tQCzmgG

— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) January 9, 2023

The same rules have been applied to the staff working in the Australian Open. They need not get tested themselves to work in the tournament. However, the committee has announced that players and staff who are unwell are recommended to stay at home.

Players are also allowed to participate in the tournament even if they are unwell or COVID-19 positive. Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley compared it to cricket and said there might be instances where players are COVID-19 positive but can participate in their respective matches. In an interview, he said, “We’ve made it clear to our players as well as over 12,000 staff that if anyone is feeling unwell, stay home. It’s a normalized environment for us and not dissimilar to cricket, there will potentially be players who will compete with COVID.”

A year after controversially booting champion tennis star Novak Djokovic out of the country over his principled vaccine stance, the Australian Open will now even allow COVID-positive players to compete in this year's tournament. https://t.co/kcxpZi4G09

— Rebel News Australia (@RebelNews_AU) January 10, 2023

There will also be no extra rules and regulations for the fans coming in at the Australian Open to watch their favorite stars in action. There will be no compulsory vaccine, no mandatory masks, and no limit on the crowd. This is a very shocking revelation by the AO committee after Novak Djokovic was exempted from participating in the event due to not being vaccinated last year in the AO 2022.

Novak Djokovic’s hamstring injury scare continues to hover over his Australian Open tilt after the nine-time champion required treatment on his left leg throughout an exhibition practice match against Daniil Medvedev. #7NEWS https://t.co/0B0J1TZRBo

— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) January 11, 2023

This is a huge step by the committee taken and everyone hopes that it comes out well. The Australian Open is in its qualifiers stage right now and the main draws begin on 16^th January 2023 which is Monday with the finals to be played on 29^th January 2023.