Authorities in Melbourne on Wednesday directed thousands of cricket fans to get themselves tested and isolated after the positive COVID-19 result of a spectator, who attended the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

The man, in his thirties, was not infectious while at the MCG on day two of the Test, “but there is potential he acquired the virus while there” or at a nearby shopping centre, news agency AFP quoted authorities saying. 

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“The MCG is being investigated as a potential source for the infection,” The Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria said. 

A number of stores in the Chadstone Shopping Centre were also named as a potential source of the infection. 

Around 7,000 to 8,000 fans will now be tested as authorities seek to determine whether one of the highest-attended sporting event since the start of the pandemic was a ‘super-spreader’ event. 

“We’re encouraging anyone who was in The Great Southern Stand, zone 5 of the MCG between 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm on 27 December, to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result,” the authorities said. 

The Boxing Day Test is a showpiece event in Australia’s sporting calendar and just under 30,000 people attended this year, well short of capacity. 

Australia has been largely unaffected by the global pandemic until recently and is now struggling to contain a spurt in cases and is hoping aggressive testing and contact tracing can help avoid major lockdowns. 

This comes a day before the start of the third Test in Sydney, which is the centre of further controversy as the New South Wales city is the epicentre of a recent outbreak. 

Spectator limit has been capped to a quarter of the capacity at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground to ensure it does not become a super-spreading event. 

Authorities in New South Wales said the revelation from Melbourne was “obviously influencing our thinking” about how the Sydney Test would proceed, without elaborating.

Those attending will now have to wear a mask while seated, in addition to an existing requirement to mask-up while getting to and from the venue.

India’s tour ‘Down Under’ has been beset with COVID-19 related problems. Five India players were criticised for allegedly breaching the team’s biosecurity bubble by going out to a restaurant.

And there are still questions about whether the two teams will have to quarantine before the final Test in Brisbane next week.