However, some epidemiologists warn the two-week tournament could be a super-spreader event.
University of South Australia Professor Adrian Esterman, a former epidemiologist for the state’s health department, said reducing crowd numbers and being rigid about mask-wearing at major sporting events such as the tennis would be sensible.
“It seems the height of madness to have these major events where there’s a high chance of super-spreading,” Professor Esterman said.
“But good news – if there is any – because they are outdoors, they’re less risky.”
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said there were safety precautions in place such as check-ins and masks, but the key figure now was hospitalisation rates, rather than the number of cases.
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“With Omicron, and particularly if you’re fully vaccinated, you’re much less likely to go to hospital,” Professor Bennett said.
“This is part of the mixing we do, but we need to do it as safely as we can.”
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley told The Age over the weekend that planning for the 2022 season had been far more difficult than the previous year, when the grand slam tournament was delayed until February and dozens of players were forced into two weeks of hard quarantine.
“If it was to be quarantine [again] this year, I’m doubting that many players would [choose to] come. But now it’s a completely different picture.”
Mr Tiley said the positive cases would be managed appropriately.
“The process of coming in is a 72-hour test before you get in, a negative test when you arrive, isolate until you get a negative result. You have to show proof of that negative test to get your accreditation, and then there’s a whole bunch of protocol to coach the players on what they need to be doing,” Mr Tiley said.
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Australian Open on track despite warning of super-spreader event
Source: Philippines Alive
