American tennis player Tennys Sandgren says he was allowed on a flight to Melbourne on Thursday morning despite testing positive for COVID-19.
Sandgren, who was a quarter-finalist at the 2020 Australian Open, said he tested positive for the second time this week, having first tested positive over Thanksgiving in late November.
Covid positive over thanksgiving
Covid positive on mondayYet pcr tests are the “gold standard”?
Atleast I get to keep my points 😂
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 13, 2021
After testing positive, Sandgren believed he wouldn’t be allowed to board the flight. In a flurry of tweets, the world No.50 said that he might be able to catch another flight the following day, before suddenly informing his followers that he was on the plane destined for the Australian Open.
He credited Craig Tiley, tournament director, for getting him on the flight.
Update: maybe I can fly tmrw
Also got a breath hold for 3:31
Been a fun day
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 14, 2021
Wait hold on I think they are trying to get me on 15 min after the plane was supposed to depart.. my bags still aren’t checked lol
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 14, 2021
Wow I’m on the plane
Maybe I just held my breath too long..
Craig Tiley is a wizard
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 14, 2021
Just as Sandgren seemed to be in the all clear, reports emerged that his flight had been grounded right before take-off. An hour later, it was cleared again.
Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg reported the update.
They have takeoff from LAX, folks! Bon voyage, mates. #AusOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 14, 2021
The Australian Open has issued a statement amid the concern and confusion, explaining that some people can still test positive to the virus months after first contracting it without being infectious.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 and who are non-infectious can continue to shed the virus for several months. 1/3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2021
“Victorian Government public heath experts assess each case based on additional detailed medical records to ensure they are not infectious before checking in to the charter flights,” the tournament tweeted in response to Sandgren’s thread.
“Players and their teams are tested every day from their arrivals in Australia, a much stricter process than for anyone else in hotel quarantine.”
Sandgren is adamant he has “totally recovered.”
A lot couch virologists out there. My two tests were less than 8 weeks a part. I was sick in November, totally healthy now. There’s not a single documented case where I would be contagious at this point. Totally recovered!
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 14, 2021
From Thursday evening, around 1200 players, officials, and support staff will land in Melbourne on 15 charter flights.
The passengers will quarantine in three Melbourne hotels – the Grand Hyatt, View Melbourne, and the Pullman Albert Park – for 14 days.
They will be allowed to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day for training and treatment.
The Australian Open 2021 kicks off February 8.