Tennis Australia release statement on Novak Djokovic controversy as visa issue drags on

Back in November, both Australia’s Health Minister Greg Hunt and a representative for the government’s Department of Health both wrote to Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley to inform him that recent infection was not justified as a medical exemption.

“The Australian Border Force has advised that people must be fully vaccinated, as defined by ATAGI (the national advisory body on vaccines) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia,” Hunt confirmed two months ago.

“In relation to your specific questions, I can confirm that people who contracted Covid-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved or recognised vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.”

His sentiment was echoed by Lisa Schofield from the Department of Health, who also sent a letter to Tiley in November stating: “ATAGI advises that past infection with SARS-CoV-2 is not a contraindication to vaccination. People with laboratory confirmation of past infection can start their vaccination course, or complete the second dose if they have already had a first dose prior to being infected by SARS-CoV-2, as soon as they have recovered from the symptomatic infection. The minimum interval requirement between the two doses must still be met.”