Coronavirus: Full list of Gold Coast events cancelled due to COVID-19

A superhero parade and a pharmaceutical conference have been cancelled along with a growing list of other events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A PHARMACEUTICAL conference set to bring more than 6000 people to the Gold Coast on Wednesday has been cancelled.

Over the weekend, Gold Coast Film Festival and Supanova Superhero Parade 2020 also joined a growing list of city events ditched due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Organisers of the Australian Pharmacy Professional (APP) Conference announced on Sunday the event would be postponed.

APP chairman Kos Sclavos AM said the difficult decision was made based on health and safety concerns.

“With over 6000 people due at APP, our number one priority is the health and safety of our community pharmacy workforce given they continue to be on the front line of the nation’s response to coronavirus,” he said.

“The ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in global company travel restriction policies which are impacting upon speakers and the trade exhibition.

“In addition, the recently announced cases of coronavirus on the Gold Coast, and the need to preserve the health and wellbeing of our frontline pharmacy workforce has resulted in the postponement of APP2020.”

Mr Sclavos said organisers of the Gold Coast Convention Centre conference relied on the health advice of state and federal health departments.

He said the cancellation would impact the city’s economy and “it saddens us deeply to take this action”.

Given COVID-19 is a communicable disease, no insurance claim is possible for the event.

Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty was scheduled to speak at the conference.

The popular Supanova Superhero Parade 2020 through Broadbeach has now been cancelled. Picture: Jerad Williams

Here’s an overview of events canned or altered on the Gold Coast, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised gatherings expected to attract 500 or more people should not go ahead.

EVENTS CANCELLED/CHANGED

• Gold Coast Film Festival, April 15-26.
• Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference, March 18-22.
• Supanova Superhero Parade 2020 and related Gold Coast Superhero Weekend activities on Sunday.
• Gold Coast Titans and Paramatta Eels will 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. Includes the Suns v Adelaide Crows match at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, March 22.
• 2020 Queensland Youth, Seniors, and Open Surf Life Saving Championships, March 20.
• HOTA’s The Greatest Showman Sing A Long Experience, Pop & Play and the Farmer’s Market, all held this weekend
• Palm Beach Currumbin State High School musical, March 20-22.
• Somerset Storyfest, March 12-21
• Little Athletics Queesland state championships, this weekend.
• Corona Open Gold Coast surfing event, March 26-April 5.
• Hit 90.9’s So GC Singles Party, March 27.
• Surf Life Saving State Titles at Sunshine Coast cancelled, affecting Gold Coast athletes.
• A range of junior and senior community sport fixtures.

Do you know of more Gold Coast events cancelled due to the pandemic? Let us know by emailing [e-mail]