Top-ranked player Novak Djokovic could be allowed to defend his French Open title under the latest COVID-19 The rules adopted by the French government, even though he still hasn’t been vaccinated when the clay-court Grand Slam starts in May.
Djokovic was deported from Australia and barred from playing at the Australian Open this month for not meeting the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules.
It initially appeared that the Serb tennis star would not be welcome at Roland Garros either under a new law intended to exclude non-vaccination from stadiums, restaurants, bars and other public places.
As questions arose about Djokovic’s status in France after his exile from Australia, Sports Minister Roxana Maracinenu previously said that as soon as the law was passed, the country’s vaccine passes would become mandatory to enter stadiums, theaters or exhibitions , “For all audiences, physicians, French or foreign professionals. ,
But vaccine pass is not limited to vaccination.
Under the law that went into effect on Monday, those who have evidence that tested positive within the past six months are exempt from showing a vaccine pass. This suggests Djokovic could play the next Grand Slam tournament at the French Open in May and June, as he has said he tested positive in mid-December.
The French sports ministry was not immediately available to answer questions from the Associated Press on Djokovic.
French Open organizers have previously said it was too early to comment as virus restrictions could change between now and May, depending on the virus situation.
Djokovic’s team also declined to comment on Monday. Djokovic had previously said he would not make a public statement until the end of the Australian Open.
Cafe owners and patrons in Paris largely welcomed the new law, which is central to the government’s anti-virus strategy.
“Personally, it reassures me in the sense that I know the people around me,” said Charles Tuil of Paris. “We want to live in a place where we can be safe in terms of health. And if you can see that the waiter checks vaccine passes and even ID cards, that’s reassuring in many ways. ,
France registers Europe’s highest ever daily coronavirus Infection numbers, and hospitals continue to overflow with virus patients, even though the number of people in intensive care units has declined in recent days.
The government has imposed some other restrictions amid the boom in omicron The variant, instead, focused on the vaccine pass, which was approved by France’s parliament and Constitutional Council last week.
Critics question whether the pass will make much of a difference in a country where 94% of French adults have received at least one vaccine dose, and scattered groups protested against the new law on Saturday. The French government hopes it protects the most vulnerable and eases pressure on overcrowded ICUs, where most patients are not vaccinated.
Since last summer, France has required a “health pass” to go to any cafe, museum, movie theater or take a regional train or domestic flight. But as of Monday, unvaccinated people could activate the pass by having recently tested negative. The new pass only works for people who have been fully vaccinated and who have recently recovered from the virus.
“For me, it’s not a problem (to show ID cards) but I can totally imagine the downward spiral – it’s like racial profiling,” said 31-year-old Tania Chauvin while eating at a Parisian restaurant. ate.
Meanwhile, France on Monday opened up access to booster shots to children aged 12 to 17.
Djokovic’s Australian saga began when he was granted exemption from strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and the tournament’s organizer to play at the Australian Open based on documents that showed he had recently contracted COVID-19. Was. They received a visa to enter the country through an automated process. But on arrival, border officials said the exemption was not valid and went on to deport him.
In the end, Australian authorities revoked Djokovic’s visa, saying his presence could spark anti-vaccination sentiment and that it was necessary to oust Australians to keep Australians safe. He was deported a day before the start of the tournament in Melbourne.
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