Novak Djokovic, the world's No. 1-ranked tennis player, flew out of Australia on Sunday after losing his appeal to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open. Australia's immigration minister, Alex Hawke, canceled Djokovic's visa on Friday, a decision upheld by an Australian court.
"I welcome today’s unanimous decision by the Full Federal Court of Australia, upholding my decision to exercise my power under the Migration Act to cancel Mr Novak Djokovic’s visa in the public interest," Hawke tweeted Sunday. "I can confirm that Mr Djokovic has now departed Australia."
Djokovic, 34, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the ruling but respected it. He was scheduled to play Monday, but will be replaced by a "lucky loser" from a qualifying tournament. The Serb has won a record nine Australian Open titles, including three in a row. A deportation order usually includes a three-year ban on returning to Australia, which puts any attempt to play the tournament in the future in doubt.
Djokovic was initially granted a waiver to enter the country despite being unvaccinated. But the waiver quickly drew an angry response from many Australians.
Also in the news:
►The United States has reported its 850,000 death, Johns Hopkins University data shows. The U.S. averaged 1,776 reported deaths per day over the last week.
►The Biden administration on Wednesday will launch a website where Americans can order up to four free COVID-19 testing kits per person.
📈Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 65 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 850,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 326 million cases and over 5.5 million deaths. More than 208 million Americans – 62.9% – are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
📘What we're reading: Omicron is closing day care centers in droves. Parents are "just trying to stay afloat."
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US now averaging 800,000 new cases each day
The United States is reporting more than 800,000 cases a day for the first time, even amid signs that America's omicron wave is slowing down. The country reported 5.65 million cases in the week ending Saturday, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. The rapid acceleration of case reports continues despite a shortage of tests. Still, in just the last week the country has reported more cases than it did in March, April, May and June 2021 – combined.
About 158,500 Americans were reported hospitalized on Saturday. Hospitals in 46 states report rising numbers of patients; 34 states report rising death rates.
– Mike Stucka
Health insurers must cover testing under new rule
A federal rule requiring health insurers cover at-home testing took effect Saturday, one of a number of recent moves aimed at curbing cases in the U.S. amid a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 infections. The wave showed signs of peaking last week, but most states are still reporting rising cases in the past seven days. Federal agencies have also moved toward recommending higher quality masks, and the Biden administration is poised to launch a website where Americans can order free COVID-19 testing kits.
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