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Good morning,
Australia and Djokovic
You have no doubt heard by now that a court has supported the Australian Governments decision, to send the worlds number one tennis player home, and end the no vaccine saga of Novak Djokovic. He is currently on his way to Dubai.
Essentially the court decision upheld the immigration ministers claim that Djokovic was not above the law, and should be deported for endangering pubic health in Australia which includes standing as a poster boy for anti-vaxxers.
Djokovic tested positive for Covid in December, but despite that didn’t wear masks at public events, and even went ahead with an interview with a journalist the same day. He entered Australia believing he was immune to Covid so he shouldn’t have to follow Australia’s rules.
Australia for its part has tried and failed to some extent at a zero Covid policy, having the longest lockdowns in the world, in an attempt to have no covid rather than manage Covid infections.
It worked for a while but the cost of closing schools and businesses is a trillion dollars in public debt, and social isolation that’s damaging to mental health and child development.
The state government in Victoria achieved a world record in locking down Melbourne six times in 20 months for a total of 262 days and even Australian passport holders returning home had to quarantine in Government hotels for 14 days.
In Australia’s defence, they have only had 2500 Covid deaths, where as in the UK the death toll is close to 200 thousand people. Australia however has over 100 thousand Omicron cases now and the spread seems unstoppable.
Djokovic represented a political challenge to the Australia Government which has tried to justify the harsh lockdowns backed up by police enforcement of Zero Covid. And his presence in Australia publicly challenged the vaccination push.
Reaction;
The ATP has described the decision to uphold the cancellation of Novak Djokovic's visa as "the end of a deeply regrettable series of events" and said his absence from the Australian Open is "a loss for the game."
"Ultimately, decisions of legal authorities regarding matters of public health must be respected” said the ATP statement.
Djokovic is Serbian, so reaction there as expected was one of outrage. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lashed out at Australian authorities, saying;
“they think that they have by this, this mistreatment of ten days humiliated Djokovic, but they have humiliated themselves. Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high,” Vucic told a state media outlet.
From a historical point of view one can’t wonder how we will look back at this time in the pandemic and think about how we struggled with vaccine and masks and strategies of countries with a wide range of approaches to Covid.
Djokovic as an individual is one of the highest profile athletes to be banned from a competition for ignoring vaccination mandates. But most tennis players at the Australian Open got vaccines long ago and abided by the rules.
Australian P.M. Scott Morrison who is soon seeking reelection and was said to be embarrassed by the scandal, now says “I welcome the decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe,” Morrison's statement read.
“As I said on Friday, Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected.
“Over the pandemic, together we have achieved one of the lowest death rates, strongest economies and highest vaccination rates, in the world”.
Djokovic’s plane took off at 10:30pm local time in Australia. No more appeals. No more drama. As they say in sports - ‘play on’.