Ehe government of the state of Victoria, which hosts the Australian Open in Melbourne, insisted this Wednesday that “I will not make exemptions” to allow entry to tennis players who are not vaccinated against covid-19. “Our health recommendation is that when we open the (international) borders, everyone who comes to Australia must have the complete vaccine schedule,” the head of the Victorian government, Daniel Andrews, remarked to the media this Wednesday.
Last week the regional politician already warned that the Athletes who want to participate in the tournament must have received the complete guideline from the drug. The current champion of the tournament and current number 1 in the world rankings, Novak Djokovic, is one of the tennis players who have avoided commenting on whether they are vaccinated or not.
Australia plans to progressively reopen its international borders from November 1, after closing them in March 2020, having reached the vaccination goal of 80 percent of the target population, according to a national plan that privileges those who have the complete vaccine schedule.
In the framework of the reopening, the Australian government allows exemptions to be requested for the entry or exit of people who are not vaccinated or have a dose, in a context in which the different regional governments apply health orders with greater or less rigor implemented during the pandemic.
These powers include, for example, the imposition of quarantines, just as it happened at the beginning of the year when the tennis players who participated in the Australian Open had to isolate themselves to be able to play the tournament.
Before Andrews’ remarks, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison considered that tennis players can apply for an entry exemption as if they were skilled workers, but He stressed that if they are not vaccinated they must comply with the quarantines in force in Victoria.
“These exemptions can be granted, but when they enter, they have to be governed by the rules determined by the public health orders of each region. I think it is a very sensible rule,” the Australian president commented to the 3AW station.
During the pandemic Australia has canceled countless sporting events such as the Formula One Grand Prix and MotoGP, as well as rugby tournaments, golf and the popular horse races, but since the middle of the month it has already begun to allow the return of spectators, with limited capacity, to the sports stadiums in the places affected by the covid-19.
.
