Spectators barred from Australian Open as Melbourne enters lockdown

A new COVID-19 cluster, originating at a quarantine hotel, has expanded to 13 cases, all of them of the highly contagious UK variant of the coronavirus.

The lockdown, which has started on midnight on Friday, includes bans on weddings, religious ceremonies, auctions and public gatherings, including sporting events. The Australian Open, scheduled to start on February 21, is considered s workplace thus it is also subject to lockdown rules. International flights have also been banned while neighboring states have closed borders with Victoria.

Neither fans nor spectators will be allowed at the event, with only the bare minimum staff needed to run the tournament getting permission to work.

The Cup is already marred by complaints from players who said they were forced to spend training time in quarantine. Earlier, authorities in Victoria had allowed the tournament to have only 50 percent of attendance.

For the next five days the Cup will proceed without spectators, organizers have confirmed. Those who have bought tickets will be given refunds. The earliest match to be attended by fans will be held on Friday.