Coronavirus: Gold Coast Film Festival canned amid string of other event cancellations on the Gold Coast due to COVID-19
A spate of Gold Coast events have been cancelled following the PM’s announcement gatherings of more than 500 should not go ahead, while many more face an uncertain future.
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NEXT month’s Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is among dozens of major Gold Coast events to fall victim to the coronavirus outbreak as authorities race to minimise the spread of the pandemic.
Federal authorities last night canned the surf sport showpiece, which was expected to lure 17,000 competitors and supporters to North Burleigh and Broadbeach from April 18.
It followed news that the first home games for both the Titans and Suns in the new National Rugby League and Australian Football League seasons would be closed to fans.
The Gold Coast and Paramatta Eels will instead play to an empty Cbus Super Stadium on March 22 after the NRL decided to close off matches for Round 2.
The Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power AFL match at Metricon Stadium, Carrara, on March 21 will also be closed to the public.
The AFLW said supporters would not be permitted to attend matches from Saturday due to the “ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic”. That includes the Suns-Adelaide Crows match at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, on March 22.
Other Coast events cancelled on Friday due to the global pandemic include the 2020 Corona Open Gold Coast surfing event, HOTA’s The Greatest Showman Sing A Long Experience, Pop and Play and Farmer’s Market, Somerset Storyfest, Little Athletics Queensland state championships in Brisbane and a number of junior sporting fixtures.
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Organisers of this weekend’s Supernova in Broadbeach last night said the event would continue, although the situation would be monitored.
The list is expected to grow in coming days with the Prime Minister on Friday advising that events expected to attract 500 or more people not go ahead.
The advice is restricted to static-seated events with a duration of over two hours. It did not include schools, university lectures or public transport.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland also confirmed on Friday that State by-elections, including the Currumbin poll, would go ahead on March 28. There has been no word on the local government elections.
Gold Coast theme parks will continue to operate as usual.
A further eight cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed in Queensland on Friday, bringing the state count to 35.
All cases are in southeast Queensland, excluding one individual in Kingaroy and one individual in Rockhampton.
There are five active cases on the Gold Coast, including Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson who are in a stable condition in Gold Coast University Hospital.
Justifying the decision to abandon the national surf lifesaving championships, Surf Life Saving Australia president Graham Ford said: “The health and wellbeing of our members, volunteers, officials and staff are paramount and SLSA also recognises that an event the size of the Aussies has the potential to attract over 17,000 people to the event and we feel that it is important that we play our part in reducing the spread of the virus out of respect for all Australians and the health care system.
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“In uncertain times, we wanted to provide some clarity and certainty to our members who have been planning and preparing for this event.”
Mayor Tom Tate urged Gold Coasters to take the health advice seriously.
“Our Prime Minister has made this decision based on information from the country’s foremost experts on this pandemic,” he said.
“It is a sensible and measured approach. I’m urging Gold Coasters to take this advice seriously and to take the necessary precautions.
“I await the details of the plan from the Queensland and Australian Governments and will implement any changes necessary.”
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said: “We’re in unprecedented times. The health and safety of our players and fans is paramount and is the top of every decision we are making.
“We can’t put a time frame on (how long we will play in front of empty stadiums), nor can the Government. This decision will be dictated by the Government and we will take their advice all the way through.”
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The Gold Coast Suns told members: “No fans will be permitted to attend matches for the foreseeable future following advice from health experts to cancel gatherings of more than 500 people.”
The club said it was not able to address implications on memberships at present given the spread of the virus.
All fans who purchased public tickets to the Round 1 game were eligible for a refund and would be contacted directly by Ticketek, the club said.
Gold Coast Turf Club chief Brett Cook said Saturday’s Jewel race day would go ahead.
But the club would meet with Racing Queensland on Monday to discuss future racedays.
Intrust Super Cup rugby league games will continue this weekend, the Queensland Rugby League announced. It will monitor the situation and was taking advice from the NRL and government representatives.
Surf Life Saving Queensland sports manager Stuart Hogben said the safety of members was the number one priority in making the decision to cancel the Aussie championships. “While we’d obviously love the competition to continue, it’s important to note the health and wellbeing of our members, volunteers, and officials remains paramount, and is the number one priority for us at all times,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the updated advice coming from health experts this afternoon left us with no other option but to cancel this year’s championships in the interests of safety.”
Broadbeach Alliance has not made a decision on its upcoming events, Blues on Broadbeach or Groundwater Country Music festival, which will be held in June and May.
“We will advise as soon as we have more clarity on a decision … don’t put your boots away just yet,” a spokesman said.
Contact tracing for coronavirus is under way for all new confirmed patients.
Queensland Health is urging anyone who has been overseas in the past 14 days and has a fever or any respiratory symptoms to see a doctor immediately.
Those people are urged to call ahead to the GP surgery to inform of symptoms and travel history.
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