Tennys Sandgren nearly left off Melbourne charter after positive Covid test
The American, a two-time quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, was nearly left off the charter plane for Melbourne due to a positive Covid-19 test, but he was ultimately allowed to fly.
In the 1100th official match of his career, Djokovic took down world No 55 wildcard Tennys Sandgren in straight sets to pick up his form.
American Tennys Sandgren nearly was left off a charter plane headed for Melbourne on Wednesday evening at Los Angeles International Airport, after he received a positive Covid-19 test on Monday.
The world No 50 kept his followers on Twitter informed as he dealt with the situation.
“Covid positive over thanksgiving,” he tweeted. “Covid positive on monday. Yet pcr tests are the “gold standard”?
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
Sandgren tweeted three and a half hours later that he may indeed be able to board the plane.
“Update: maybe I can fly tmrw,” he tweeted, adding. “Also got a breath hold for 3:31. Been a fun day.”
Update: maybe I can fly tmrw
Also got a breath hold for 3:31
Been a fun day
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 14, 2021
And, finally, there was the news that he had been cleared to travel to the Australian Open, thanks to some handiwork by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley.
“Wow I’m on the plane,” Sandgren Tweeted. “Maybe I just held my breath too long.. Craig Tiley is a wizard.”
The Explanation from Australian Open
Later the Australian Open tweeted a full explanation of the situation. Reportedly, according to Australia’s 7 news.com, the amount of virus remaining in Sandgren’s body would be non-infectious on the trip due to the “weak positive.”
“Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 and who are non-infectious can continue to shed the virus for several months,” the Australian Open’s official account tweeted. “Victorian Government public health experts assess each case based on additional detailed medical records to ensure they are not infectious before checking in to the charter flights.”
Victorian Government public health experts assess each case based on additional detailed medical records to ensure they are not infectious before checking in to the charter flights.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2021
They added: “Players and their teams are tested every day from their arrival in Australia, a much stricter process than for anyone else in hotel quarantine.”
