Australian Open could see reduced crowds due to Omicron surge

With the sudden increase in cases of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus, authorities in Australia are considering limiting attendance at events in January, including the Australian Open.

Although lockdowns have been ruled out, Victorian officials may bring in density caps to prevent a worst-case Omicron wave in January projected to produce about 200,00 cases a day.

The state government’s lockdown ruling came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated that mass vaccination hubs would be key to getting booster shots to millions of Australians, adding that Australia would not go back into lockdowns, but a recommendation from the country’s chief health officers for using masks in indoor settings was “very sensible”.

“Yes, we’re going to need to continue to calibrate how we manage this virus and how we live with this virus in the face of Omicron. Of course, that is necessary,” Morrison said on Tuesday morning.

“But we’re not going back to lockdowns, we’re not going back to shutting down people’s lives. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility.”

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has not advised the Victorian cabinet that more restrictions are necessary. However, the senior official said curbs on high-risk indoor events such as closed-roof Rod Laver Arena matches would be a non-invasive measure, implying that the number of fans allowed at these events may be reduced.