The Collingwood Magpies and Melbourne Vixens will tomorrow travel to Queensland where they will quarantine for 14 days in preparation for the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season beginning on 1 August.
The two teams have been granted exemptions by the Queensland Government to travel into the state, with all athletes and team staff returning negative COVID-19 tests in recent days.
The 14-day quarantine period will finish on Sunday 2 August, but the Queensland Government exemptions will allow the two Victorian teams to play each other during quarantine to ensure the season begins as planned on 1 August.
With several quarantining scenarios discussed over the past fortnight, Suncorp Super Netball league management also worked closely with the New South Wales Government to gain travel exemptions for the two Victorian teams.
League management are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation around the nation closely and working on a revised and flexible fixture to kickstart the first phase of the 2020 season on 1 August. The first phase of this fixture will be announced within the next five days.
Suncorp Super Netball CEO Chris Symington has said the constantly-evolving COVID-19 situation has presented a complex situation to manage over the past few weeks.
“Like most sports in Australia, we have faced some quite unique circumstances in recent weeks. Having to rejig our season has presented some substantial challenges but our operations team has worked closely with government and all of our key stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for our playing group and competition overall,” he said.
“We thank the Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young and New South Wales Government Minister for Health The Hon. Brad Hazzard enormously for their assistance over the past two weeks in providing exemptions for our Victorian teams. This support has ensured that the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season is able to get underway safely.
“We understand the sacrifice that our athletes, support staff and umpires who are having to relocate are making by being away from their home and loved ones for an extended period and appreciate their willingness to do what it takes to ensure we’re able to get the 2020 season started. We’ll continue to work closely with these clubs and ensure they’re adequately supported.”
All Victorian athletes and staff in quarantine will be tested for COVID-19 on day 4 and day 10 of their quarantine period.
