Almost like a tennis metaphor, the coronavirus He has a varied game, which sometimes gives demanding baseline rallies and other times he attacks with serves and volleys. But in one way or another it does not give respite and the organization of the Australian Open is attentive to any change. And for that you have a health protocol which seeks to prevent contagion and allow the traditional Melbourne tournament to take place in the best possible way.
Everyone must conform to those protocols. And possibly the most important is that everyone who approaches the Opened You must present a health pass that shows that you have the complete vaccination schedule, whether you are a tennis player, tournament staff, ITF, ATP and WTA official, coach, sparring partner or public.
However, the organization, the Australian authorities and the State of Victoria -of which Melbourne is its capital- had to find an alternative that included those who are not vaccinated. So, they decided to take as a valid document a certificate of “medical exemption”, which must be granted by independent clinical specialists and infectologists to the Open.
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The exemptions cover those who have some kind of health problem that prevents them from getting vaccinated, such as inflammatory heart diseases (myocarditis or pericarditis), acute or insufficiency, acute rheumatic fever, serious medical conditions, risk for people with mental health or developmental disorders. And it also includes those who contracted Covid and through a PCR can confirm that infection, for example Rafael Nadal, who had the disease a few weeks ago.
Those who must present some of these two permits are all those over 12 years and two months. What’s more, the use of face masks is mandatory -this includes children from the age of 8- and they can only take it off when they are sitting outdoors, eating or drinking indoors, talking to a deaf or hard of hearing person, or when requested to do so by an authority. verify your identity through facial recognition.
In the week leading up to the tournament, the Victorian government decided to reduce capacity by 50% (for the second consecutive year) for the Australian Open as a result of the growing wave of infections. “Ventilation will be improved in the inner enclosures of Melbourne Park,” added the statement published by the state government.
Most of the players have been in Australia since before the end of the year, because from the first days of January they began to compete in the different events that functioned as preliminaries of the first grand slam of the year. All tennis players who arrived in the country had to present a negative test within 72 hours prior to shipment and once on Australian territory, they were isolated until it was confirmed with another test that they were not infected.
What happens if a player tests positive?
Tournament participants were required to upload and validate their full vaccination or medical exemption at the “Service Victoria” app, through which they are checked daily via QR code. And in the case of tennis players, who will be tested every five days, if they test positive they will have to isolate themselves for 10 days and, before leaving the country, be tested again and give that test a negative.
If in a player’s environment there is a positive case, the tennis player will be subjected to a rapid test and, if he is vaccinated, he will only remain isolated until said result is available (provided it is negative). The organization recommended that they not share a room because if someone close to them becomes infected, they will not be considered close contact in case there is no coexistence.
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Although the precautions are many, as well as the fears of an outbreak, the measures are much more flexible than a year ago (the mandatory nature of the vaccine is key). For this one Australian Open 2022, Melbourne Park (the venue where the tournament is played) will not have divisions and people will be able to move freely and even buy tickets for different locations, as they wish, as long as they meet the requirements of being vaccinated or exempt.
“We have worked closely with the Victorian government to establish fair and independent protocols for evaluating medical exemption applications that will allow us to ensure that the Australian Open 2022 be safe and enjoyable for everyone,” explained Craig Tiley, director of the Open.
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