The Australian Open tennis tournament will continue without spectators, officials said Friday after Victorian state leaders announced a five-day lockdown due to a coronavirus cluster linked to a quarantine hotel in Melbourne.

Victoria -- Australia's second-most populous state -- will enter lockdown from Saturday, with residents only allowed to leave their home for essential activities such as shopping or providing care.

Organizers of the Grand Slam tennis tournament, Tennis Australia, said play will continue as scheduled but that spectators will not be allowed on site from Saturday.

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays on her way to a victory in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Feb. 12, 2021. (Kyodo)

The broadcast-only contingency plan will continue until restrictions are lifted, they said in a statement.

The first Grand Slam of the tennis calendar began Monday after a three-week delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 30,000 spectators were supposed to be able to attend each day, around half of the venue's usual capacity.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the snap-lockdown was essential because the cluster, which stands at 13 cases, is the British variant of the coronavirus and is spreading rapidly.

"Because this is so infectious and is moving so fast, we need a circuit breaker," Andrews said at a press conference.

Currently, all confirmed cases are close contacts of previously identified infections. However, Andrews said a "third wave would be catastrophic" for the state that previously endured a months-long lockdown during its second wave over the Australian winter.


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