Djokovic’s beliefs and conduct have made headlines all through the pandemic. In April 2020, he mentioned he was against vaccines and that he wouldn’t wish to be required to obtain a shot with the intention to journey. Simply months later, he and his spouse examined optimistic for COVID after he organized and performed in exhibition matches that flouted social distancing suggestions. In October 2021, he mentioned that questions on his vaccination standing have been “inappropriate.”
The event’s defending champion had stunned many Tuesday when he posted on social media that he had been granted an “exemption permission” to journey to Australia. However, as Melbourne’s Age newspaper first reported, it was not clear whether or not Djokovic had introduced adequate proof to show his exemption motive.
Underneath Australian legislation, foreigners touring into the nation should have a visa and be absolutely vaccinated. Tennis Australia and officers in Victoria, the place Melbourne is positioned, made related necessities for gamers who needed to take part within the Open with out first enterprise a compulsory 14-day quarantine.
However Australian immunization officers had outlined some short-term vaccine exemptions for its residents, which embody individuals who have had a PCR-confirmed case of COVID within the final six months. It’s not clear if these apply to foreigners searching for to enter Australia, however tennis officers had pointed to those exemptions of their determination to permit Djokovic to take part.
That Djokovic was granted an exemption to play in Melbourne, which endured one in every of the longest lockdowns on the earth as Australia sought to maintain COVID instances at zero previous to widespread vaccination, induced an enormous outcry within the nation.
Tennis and Victorian officers pressured his software had gone by way of a “double blind” assessment course of, however giant sections of the Australian public and media railed in opposition to the choice.
“I do not care how good a tennis participant he’s. If he is refusing to get vaccinated, he should not be allowed in,” former Australian Medical Affiliation vice chairman Stephen Parnis wrote on Twitter.
Requested concerning the tennis participant’s exemption at a press convention on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison instructed reporters Djokovic would want to “present acceptable proof” for his declare that he couldn’t be vaccinated for medical causes.
“We await his presentation and what proof he offers us to help that,” Morrison mentioned. “If that proof is inadequate, then he will not be handled any completely different to anybody else, and he’ll be on the subsequent airplane residence.”
On Wednesday, Morrison’s authorities indicated that they’d have a say on whether or not Djokovic could be allowed into the nation.
“Whereas the Victorian Authorities and Tennis Australia might allow a non-vaccinated participant to compete within the Australian Open, it’s the Commonwealth Authorities that can implement our necessities on the Australian border,” Dwelling Affairs Minister Karen Andrews mentioned in a assertion titled “Australia’s border guidelines apply to everybody.”
“No particular person competing on the Australian Open might be afforded any particular therapy,” Andrews mentioned.
Hunt, the well being minister, mentioned the foundations have been robust however honest. “Australians have needed to do it robust,” Hunt mentioned, “and Australians in many alternative states and territories have needed to present their vaccination data in some instances to enter premises and cafés and different issues, and it isn’t unreasonable to have precisely the identical requirement for all who enter this nation.”
