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Two positive cases on Australian Open flight

A plane full of Australian Open tennis players and staff has been forced into strict quarantine after two people on-board tested positive for coronavirus, a leaked email has revealed.

The flight from Los Angeles landed in Melbourne early yesterday morning and tests were conducted soon afterwards.

There were 79 people on the flight, including 67 passengers. Of those passengers, 24 are players.

COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria later confirmed the infected people were a flight crew member and a Australian Open participant who is not a player.

Under arrangements made with the Victorian government, players will be subject to the 14-day quarantine but will be allowed five hours out of their rooms each day to train.

Now nobody aboard that flight will be allowed to leave their rooms for the whole two weeks.

"We know this is not how you imagined your preparations for the AO would start but our entire team is here to support and do everything we can to get your through this," the email sent from Tennis Australia read.

"The most important thing you need to know right now is you are not alone in this and we are here to provide you any extra support you need."

Two people on Australian Open charter flight test positive

Among the passengers aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR7493 are believed to be Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens and Kei Nishikori.

"The aircrew member and the passenger have been interviewed and transferred to a health hotel as per normal processes for positive cases," the statement read.

"All remaining 66 passengers on the flight have been determined to be close contacts. Any players and support people will not be able to leave quarantine to attend training."

All passengers will be undergoing the routine testing that applies to all international arrivals.

"The passengers who have been designated close contacts will be unable to access training and will undertake a standard 14-day quarantine period," the statement read.

"Players are being supported to access equipment for their hotel rooms to help them maintain their fitness during this time."

Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said organisers are in constant communication with everyone who was onboard.

"We are communicating with everyone on this flight, and particularly the playing group whose conditions have now changed, to ensure their needs are being catered to as much as possible, and that they are fully appraised of the situation," Mr Tiley said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with the two people who tested positive on the flight and we wish them well for their recovery."

Around 1200 elite international players and their support staff are set to arrive in Melbourne to begin their 14-day coronavirus quarantines ahead of the tournament on February 8.

Hundreds have already arrived since Thursday, flying in on chartered flights organised by the Australian Open.

All Australian Open players and officials must return a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to Australia.

Two players, former world number one Andy Murray, and Grand Slam finalist Madison Keys have already had to cancel their travel plans after returning positive tests.

Victoria has recorded ten days without a local coronavirus infection.

There were three cases of coronavirus acquired overseas. It is not known if the two passengers aboard QR7493 were among yesterday's figures released this morning by Victoria's Health Department.

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