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Cricket Australia insists the Ashes series can continue despite four COVID-19 cases among non-playing members of England's touring camp.
The Ashes series is hanging by a thread after four non-playing members of England's touring group tested positive to COVID-19 in Melbourne.
In the biggest threat to the series so far, two support staff and two of their family members returned positive rapid antigen tests.
Play on day two of the third Test on Monday was delayed 30 minutes as England were taken off the team bus at their hotel and sent for COVID-19 testing.
At stumps, Australian and English players were whisked away wearing of masks and gloves for a PCR test.
Cricket Australia was adamant that the series could continue as planned, but there are significant grounds for concern.
England have already had two tours called off mid-trip in the past two years because of COVID-19, while a home Test against India was also cancelled earlier this year.
In that case, four members of India's backroom staff had contracted the virus amid fears of a bigger outbreak.
But a defiant CA boss Nick Hockley insisted that situation in the Ashes was entirely different.
"We just need to remain calm and get the facts," Hockley said.
"Everyone needs to follow the medical advice. On that basis, we keep going.
"We've been working on the plans for this tour for over six months.
"Our protocols are designed for absolutely this set of events. We've got strong protocols. We've got very comprehensive testing regimes."
But England quick Jimmy Anderson says he is concerned about the fate of the tour after an on-again, off-again 18 months of cricket for England.
Asked if he thought the tour would be abandoned, Anderson said: "It's very hard to answer.
"We are all having PCR tests now and we will need all those to be clear really if possible.
"We've not been told anything. That will get talked about by much more people than me if and when those results come back."
Australia could have the Ashes urn retained by Tuesday afternoon.
But if there are positive test results returned come Tuesday morning, the question would be whether the match will be allowed to continue.
Like-for-like players can be brought in if there are COVID cases or symptoms, but there would eventually be a limit to how many cases is too many.
Questions also remain about whether the series should head to Sydney where there are 6000 cases a day, or if entry to Tasmania will still be allowed come the fifth Test on January 14.
As of Monday, CA was confident it could stick to that schedule and state governments would work with them to ensure matches go ahead.
There were also at least some sign of hope on Monday evening, with no England players reporting any symptoms of the virus.
"As far as I am aware the whole playing group ... and the management at the ground today feel fine," Anderson said.
"We have stepped up the safety protocols ... just to make sure if there is any infection around the group so it doesn't spread."
The latest drama follows Australian skipper Pat Cummins missing the Adelaide Test as a close contact, while the Seven Network lost most of its commentary on Monday as close contacts after a positive case among its staff.