Australian court hears request for Djokovic’s stay Coronavirus pandemic News

Among the questions about the situation of COVID-19 facing the deportation of the best male tennis player in the world.

An Australian court has begun hearing the appeal of tennis star Novak Djokovic, one of the best male players in the world, for complying with the COVID-19 exemption rules for entry into the country less than two weeks before the start of the Australian Open tennis tournament. .

Djokovic was arrested at the airport on Wednesday night after his visa was revoked.

Authorities said the player did not provide enough evidence to be medically exempted from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Australia has not yet fully opened its borders, and non-resident foreigners must be fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions. News of Djokovic’s exception sparked outrage in a country struggling with a new wave of coronavirus and the international influx of many families who have been separated for years due to strict restrictions.

Djokovic says he voted positive for COVID-19 in December to be eligible for the exemption.

The virtual hearing was scheduled to begin at 10am (11pm GMT) after the judge rejected the government’s request to postpone the case for a couple of days. Proceedings finally began at 10:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. GMT) after technological issues. They were repeatedly left in a live audience for the audition.

Djokovic wants to set a record for the 21st Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open, which starts on January 17 in Melbourne.

Since his visa was revoked last week, he has been in the Park Hotel as an “alternative place of detention.” The facility has accommodated people who have been recognized as refugees but are still being held in custody because they arrived in the country by boat.

Djokovic’s lawyers argue that he had the necessary permits to enter Australia, including an assessment by the Department of the Interior, stating that the response to his travel declaration form met the requirements for a non-quarantine arrival.

In a statement to the court, the player said that he had ticked the box on the official government form for medical reasons and that he had not been vaccinated and had uploaded the certificates issued by the Chief Medical Officer and Tennis Australia.

Earlier, the Serbs repeatedly said that they would get the information they were asking for if they gave the phone to immigration officials.

Referee Anthony Kelly appeared quite sympathetic to the player’s situation: “It’s the last point I’m in,” he said, “what more could this man have done.”

In documents issued prior to the proceedings, the government said the email could not be viewed “to ensure that its so-called‘ medical exception ’would be accepted,” and that its responses could be questioned and verified upon receipt.

The government also sued Djokovic for requesting a medical exemption because he had recently had COVID-19.

“There is no evidence that the applicant had an ‘acute medical illness’ in December 2021. All he said was that he was positive for COVID-19. This is not the same,” he said in the dossier.