The first groups of tennis players to exit hotel quarantine will begin leaving their accommodation on Thursday evening, but some will be staying longer than 14 days – and have taken to social media to vent their displeasure at the situation.
The process of releasing all 960 Australian Open players and staff is expected to take until as late as Sunday afternoon.
Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria – the body responsible for hotel quarantine in the state – said Australian Open players and staff will begin leaving quarantine at 6pm on Thursday.
“Departure dates and numbers may be subject to change,” the CQV statement read.
As of Thursday morning, one player who was forced to endure 14 days of strict hotel quarantine (because there had been a positive case on their charter flight) told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald they had not been told what time they would be released.
Flights entered Melbourne over a couple of days so therefore the 14-day quarantine period ends at differing times over the next few days.
Delaying matters further is the fact that CQV wants to make sure all players are let out individually, so as to ensure all checks and protocols are carried out.
For example, the three hotels will still be classified as a “red zone” until all players leave them.
That has left some players – such as Tennys Sandgren – facing an extra day in quarantine.
