Fans attending the third test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to commence from January 7.

The five-day match will be played in front of a crowd of some 10,000 to allow social distancing in a ground that can hold 48,000 after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia’s largest city.

Hazzard said New South Wales had no option but to impose the measure after health officials in Victoria state confirmed that one fan who attended Day 2.

“I want to stress that Victoria announcing a new case that they don’t yet know the source of at the MCG is obviously influencing our thinking about what we should be doing to keep New South Wales safe,” Hazzard told a news conference.

The authorities have also said that the patron was not infectious while attending the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and he has now subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

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“You must wear a mask,” he added. “From the moment effectively you get into the transport to get there, and get into the queue at the front door of the SCG, and go to your seat, and sit in the your seat, you must wear a mask. The only exception to that, if you’re eating or drinking.”

“Again, the (health) orders that will be made today will impose a A$1,000 fine on any person who was in that location and who seeks to come to the SCG,” he said.

“I know that’s a tough – it’s a tough ask, but it’s absolutely necessary to keep New South Wales residents safe.”

Fans from rural areas have been also banned from attending to avoid the risk of them taking the virus back to areas so far unaffected.

The test series between the two cricketing superpowers is drawn 1-1 going into the third match with the fourth scheduled to take place from Jan. 15 in Brisbane.

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Source: InsideSport