Hawks look at possible game-day flight after latest COVID-19 spanner

Hawks players and staff woke on Monday to news that a Wollongong resident, a returned overseas traveler, had tested positive for coronavirus two days after completing the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.

The result returned from a day-16 test prompted NSW Health to issue warnings for several venues the person visited in Wollongong, with people flocking to COVID testing sites.

Whether Wednesday's game goes ahead will likely hinge on whether test results reveal any cases of community transmission.

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The Hawks were due to return to Wollongong on Monday, but have remained in Melbourne as the NBL monitors the situation.

Hawks president Dorry Kordahi said plans remain in place for the club to host its first game at the WEC, but said the final call will ultimately come down to health advice.

"At the moment the team's staying in Melbourne," Kordahi said.

"It's looking like we might be flying back [to Sydney] on Wednesday morning with Melbourne United, but we're just waiting for some clearance from the health authorities in NSW.

"We're hoping to come back [on Tuesday] but if we have to stay an extra day just to make sure everything's all clear, we'll do that.

"If we do fly back Wednesday we'll be flying with United so we'll both be in the same boat.

"From the NBL's perspective, they're being cautious more than anything else.

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"We understand it's a very low-risk case from what we're hearing.

"I imagine there'll be a lot of tests done [on Monday] and hopefully, [Tuesday] morning, once all of those results come back, we'll have a clearer understanding of where we are.

"We're going to give it 24 hours and see what happens. If everything's looking all clear [on Tuesday] we'll head back home.

"We're not going to jump the gun, but hopefully it's not too concerning and it's just something minor that won't have an impact on what we're doing."

News of the positive test has done nothing to slow preparations for Wednesday's game at the WEC, with the club working under the impression the venue will be at 75 per cent capacity.

Kordahi said the club is yet to hear any contrary advice from health authorities.

"We're following government protocols and, at the moment, we've heard nothing from the government saying we need to reduce anything," Kordahi said.

"From that perspective, it's all systems normal for Wednesday's game."

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The Hawks will be looking to bounce back from Sunday's heavy loss to the Phoenix that took a thin coat of gloss off their Wollongong homecoming that was shaping as a possible showdown between two undefeated teams.

United maintained their unbeaten record with a win over Perth in Sunday's other fixture, though it's cost them back-court pair Chris Goulding (calf) and Shea Ili (ankle), who were both ruled out for up to a month on Monday.

It will be the Hawks only home outing prior to the month-long NBL Cup set to hit Melbourne from February 20, with all nine teams to be based in the southern capital for the duration of the tournament.

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