A bunch of Australian Open players are complaining about the food in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program, after two chartered flights to Melbourne containing players were sent into mandatory quarantine following positive COVID-19 cases among passengers.
On Sunday afternoon, Head of COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria Emma Cassar confirmed that a member of a broadcast team was the fourth positive case from the LA flight. The other three cases are a crew member and two coaches. No players have tested positive yet, but they still must quarantine for the 14-day period.
#LIVE: Corrections Commissioner Emma Cassar is updating the public and media on the state of the #AusOpen2021 tournament and Hotel Quarantine. #9News https://t.co/WKBIlEQxwt
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) January 17, 2021
Players are now in their second day of quarantine and are already complaining about the food. Tennis stars like, Fabio Fognini, Pablo Carreno Busta, Corentin Moutet and Marco Cecchinato all took to their Instagram stories to express their disdain for the food.
Image: Instagram/ Fabio Fognini
Image: Instagram/ Fabio Fognini
Image: Instagram/ Marco Cecchinato
Image: Instagram / Damir Dzumhur
Image: Instagram/ Corentin Moutet
Image: Instagram / Pablo Carreno Busta
However, at Sunday’s press conference Emma Cassar assured reporters that players could still use UberEats if they don’t like the food.
“UberEats in any quarantine program and any food delivery service is allowed,” she said.
“There is one meal provided to people. If it’s not to your liking, then of course you can order UberEats.”
However, one person in hotel quarantine took that a step too far and praised himself for shouting everyone on the floor UberEats, but “opened his door to do so,” breaching strict protocol.
A tennis player also breached protocol and was fined as a result.
“[The player] opened his door to try and have a conversation with his training mates down the hallway … he got a fine,” Cassar said.
“You can pick up the phone and use that instead of putting yourself and other people at risk.”
If players or those in the hotel quarantine continue to breach the rules, Cassar said they would be transferred to “a complex care hotel, where there is a member of Victoria police outside the door.”
