Fans must wear masks if they want to attend the third Test of the ongoing four-Test series between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 7 (Thursday).
Keeping in mind the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, fans have been instructed by the Australian authorities and New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Wednesday (January 6) to mandatorily wear the mask at all times except when eating or drinking at the stadium.
Hazzard said they are forced to impose the measure after Victoria’s health officials claimed a man who attended the Boxing Day Test at MCG might have contracted COVID-19.
The New Year’s Test between the two cricketing superpowers will see around 10,000 fans at the 48,000 capacity SCG in order to follow social distancing in the ground following the Coronavirus outbreak in Australia's largest city – Sydney.
Hazzard told a news conference on Wednesday: “I want to stress that Victoria announcing a new case that they don't yet know the source of at the MCG is obviously influencing our thinking about what we should be doing to keep New South Wales safe.”
He further added, “You must wear a mask. From the moment effectively you get into the transport to get there, and get into the queue at the front door of the SCG, and go to your seat, and sit in your seat, you must wear a mask. The only exception to that, if you're eating or drinking.”
The official further said if anyone is found breaching the rules or seen without wearing a mask in indoor public spaces at the SCG would be fined A$200 ($155).
Hazzard signed off by saying, “Again, the (health) orders that will be made today will impose a A$1,000 fine on any person who was in that location and who seeks to come to the SCG. I know that's a tough - it's a tough ask, but it's absolutely necessary to keep New South Wales residents safe.”
Noteworthy, the fans from the rural areas and certain parts of Sydney deemed to have a higher COVID-19-risk have been banned from attending the SCG Test to avoid the risk of spreading the virus at the SCG.
(With Reuters Inputs)
