The coronavirus emergency plan in Australia: Broad contamination has major issues

The coronavirus has an increasing impact worldwide and as a result, many sports events have been cancelled or are under pressure. Formula 1 will start in Australia this weekend, but it is all on a thin line. If an infected person turns up in the paddock and action is not taken on time or adequately, this can have major consequences. That is why an emergency plan has been drawn up in case an infection emerges.

First risk cases

A few employees of teams are currently 'suspected' of infection and they have been placed directly in self-isolation. If more infections appear, the persons in question are immediately placed in isolation cells that are present around the track according to Auto Motor und Sport. 

The rule is now that if someone has any symptoms, he or she should go to a doctor immediately and then to his or her hotel for isolation. Even if it's just a cold.

If too many people get infected and go into isolation, that has a direct consequence for the teams. For example, Guenther Steiner says: "If I lose too many people, our cars can no longer drive." That sound of concern can also be heard at Alfa Romeo, where team manager Beat Zehnder says: “The worst is when engineers are missing. You cannot replace them and you cannot let them fly in."

Two people from Haas are currently in quarantine and one from McLaren. Andreas Seidl, team manager of McLaren, is a little less concerned about that than the other two people mentioned at Haas because the English team is organised in such a way that the team members can take over the work of others without any problems.

Vietnam is under pressure

At this moment the Grand Prix of this weekend will take place, but when there are too many contamination cases, the race will be put in jeopardy. That is not the only effect, the race in Vietnam then also becomes really problematic. 

The country has an entry restriction in force for Italians. They should be in quarantine for fourteen days before they can enter the country.

In addition, a visa requirement has been introduced for short stays, but the problem is that it is currently not possible to apply for a visa. The result is that Formula 1 - based on the current exclusions - can travel to Hanoi in a limited form and that could result in the absence of some teams. Nobody is waiting for that and Chase Carey is currently in the country to negotiate so that the Grand Prix can continue.

This article was written by Lennard Verhage and first appeared on GPblog.com/nl.