Strict quarantine plan unveiled

TENNIS

MELBOURNE: Government officials have moved to assure Victorians that players in next month's Australian Open will be subjected to the strictest quarantine arrangements for a tournament anywhere in the world.

Players have been warned of severe penalties, including possible criminal sanctions, if they or a member of their team break quarantine.

About 1200 players, officials and support staff will be tested for Covid19 before travelling to

Melbourne on 15 charter flights that will arrive from tomorrow night.

The participants will quarantine in three Melbourne hotels for two weeks before the Australian Open begins on February 8.

They will be permitted to leave their hotel rooms for up to five hours a day for training and treatment, in order to reduce the risk of injury, and will do so in a secure training bubble overseen by Covid19 Quarantine Victoria staff. — AAP