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While nine-time champion Novak Djokovic awaits deportation, it has emerged Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was repeatedly warned that a recent COVID-19 infection wasn't grounds for a medical exemption for unvaccinated players.

Currently locked in a quarantine hotel, the world No.1 may be deported less than 24 hours after arriving in Melbourne where he was set to bid for a record 21st grand slam title.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed that Djokovic had tried to enter the country without a medical exemption from vaccination.

The Serbian superstar claimed he had such an exemption, but it appears this was only granted for the tournament and not entry into Australia.

Two-time Open quarter-finalist and outspoken anti-vaxxer Tennys Sandgren said the treatment of the world's top male player meant Australia didn't deserve to host a grand slam.

The American himself didn't enter this year's tournament, saying he didn't meet grounds for an exemption.

"Just to be crystal clear here. 2 separate medical boards approved his exemption. And politicians are stopping it. Australia doesn't deserve to host a grand slam," Sandgren tweeted.

Djokovic's visa was revoked by the federal government, with his title defence now resting on a successful legal challenge starting at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Morrison said entry to Australia required double vaccination or a medical exemption, which Djokovic did not have, and that "rules are rules".

"People must be fully vaccinated as defined by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia," he said on Thursday.

"That means people who do not meet the definition will not be approved for quarantine-free entry.

"I am advised that such an exemption was not in place and as a result he is subject to the same rule as anyone else."

It's been revealed that the Department of Health sent Tiley two letters in November stipulating that a COVID infection in the past six months would not satisfy entry requirements for unvaccinated players.

It's believed the world No.1 men's player applied for an exemption on those grounds.

Health Minister Greg Hunt reiterated advice in a letter in late November.

"I can confirm that people who have contracted COVID-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)- approved or TGA-recognised vaccine (or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine) are not considered fully vaccinated," Hunt wrote.

Djokovic was transported from Tullamarine airport, where he was detained by border authorities after arriving late on Wednesday night, to a quarantine hotel in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton.

He will remain there until his flight out of Australia is arranged, which could come as early as Thursday night.

The move by the Australian government threatened to cause a diplomatic incident between Canberra and Belgrade.

"I've just finished my telephone conversation with Novak Djokovic," Serbia president Aleksandar Vucic posted on Instagram.

"I told our Novak that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately.

"In line with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak, truth and justice."

TA is expected to make a statement later on Thursday but faced public outrage over the tournament exemption.

Rod Laver urged Djokovic to tell the public his medical reasoning, fearing repercussions on the court named after him at Melbourne Park.

"I think it might get ugly ... if he's got a reason for (the exemption) then ... we should know it," Laver said.

Australia's women's world No.1 Ash Barty said she understood the frustration in the community at the exemption decision.

"It's a tough one. As we've seen a little bit in the last day or so, from the Australian public, I know how hard it has been for Australians... but in particular Victorians have had a real rough trot over the last 18 months and two years."

In soap-opera scenes, Djokovic's father Srdjan first shed light on the extraordinary situation when he told Serbian B92 internet portal "Novak is currently in a room which no one can enter. In front of the room are two policemen."

Djokovic had jetted into Tullamarine Airport late Wednesday night after a 14-hour flight from Dubai.

With agencies

© AAP 2022

Victorians who record a positive rapid test for COVID-19 will be required to isolate for seven days and report their result to the state health department.

A new "probable case" category of contact will be signed off on Thursday, imposing the same rights and obligations as anyone who tests positive with a PCR test, and will come into effect from Friday.

The tweak to the rules comes as Victoria reported 21,997 new cases on Thursday, one-third of the 64,000 results recorded.

"In the eyes of the health department, you have COVID," acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said of those receiving a positive result from a rapid antigen test.

Probable cases must immediately isolate for seven days, notify their contacts and report to the health department over the phone or on an online form, expected to go live on Friday.

Professor Cowie said those people were being discouraged from confirming the result with a PCR test unless they have no symptoms and are not a contact of a positive case - those least likely to have COVID.

Health Minister Martin Foley said probable cases would receive the same clinical and financial support as PCR confirmed cases.

"The goal is to bring it as close to, if not exactly the same as, the supports that the PCR reporting system has and make sure that increasingly, the rapid antigen testing is the key part of our testing," he said.

Probable cases will be reported alongside the daily figures.

Restrictions are also being reintroduced in an effort to limit the spread.

Density limits of one person per two square metres will be brought in for indoor hospitality and entertainment venues from Friday. Cinemas and theatres, where people are seated and masked, will be exempt.

Mr Foley meanwhile distanced the state from the "messy" process around No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic's entry into Australia for the Australian Open.

"The Commonwealth lets you into the country, Tennis Australia in partnership with the state lets you into the tournament," he said.

"Someone issued Novak Djokovic a visa. It wasn't the Victorian government."

Djokovic's visa was cancelled by Australian Border Force on Thursday morning and he was moved to a quarantine facility pending a return flight to Europe.

VICTORIA'S LATEST COVID-19 FIGURES:

* Active cases: 61,120

* Hospital cases: 631, up 40

* Hospital cases seven-day average: 537

* Active cases in ICU: 51

* Cleared cases in ICU: 49

* Cases on a ventilator: 22

© AAP 2022

Police are investigating a crash that killed a woman who was walking with a suitcase along a rural highway in southern Tasmania.

The 37-year-old was struck by a vehicle on the Midland Highway at Brighton north of Hobart about 10pm on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old driver and two passengers were not injured and remained at the scene.

Investigators are calling for anyone with information to come forward, particularly those who may have seen the woman walking on highways in the area between 8pm and 10.15pm.

"Police would also like to talk to anyone who may have given the woman a lift in their vehicle during this time," Tasmania Police Senior Sergeant Jason Klug said.

The woman was wearing a black top, blue jeans, black sneakers and was carrying a black suitcase.

© AAP 2022