Anzac Day parade cancellation: Experts say event poses less risk than flying in Australian Open tennis players did

There’s less risk staging the Anzac Day march than there was flying in players for the Australian Open, medical experts say.

A scaled-down Anzac Day parade poses less risk to the community than flying in overseas players for the Australian Open, medical experts say.

The parade — which RSL Victoria cancelled — could still go ahead with an announcement possible as early as Friday afternoon.

RSL Victoria is meeting with the state government to discuss the situation.

Professor Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist who has worked with the World Health Organisation, said:

“I’d feel more comfortable about having this sort of thing than I did with the Australian Open.”

“There was probably much more of a risk to the Australian Open for example than there would be for an Anzac Day parade because they’re bringing in people from overseas with the risk of it leaking,’’ he said.

“This is only for Australians. It’s being held outdoors. We know outdoors is much safer.”

The Anzac Day march, which runs down Melbourne's St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance, was last held in 2019. Picture: Jason Edwards

Professor Esterman said while there was risk with any event masks, social distancing and a cap on participants and spectators would greatly reduce the chances of any outbreak.

“At the moment we have very little COVID-19 floating around if any,’’ Professor Esterman said.

“The risk would be very, very low so I would fully support a restricted march.

“You just need to be sensible about this.”

Professor Nancy Baxter, head of the University of Melbourne’s school of population and global health, said flying in 1200 players, officials and support staff from overseas for the Australian Open posed a greater COVID-19 threat.

“If you had to look at the risk there’d be more risk involved with that than allowing people in Australia, if we have zero community transmission, to congregate,’’ she said.

“I do think it’s strange that they would call it off entirely.

“To me it’s a little odd they aren’t allowing something.”

Professor Baxter said it was however important to remember the UK virus strain increased the risk and elderly people were especially vulnerable.

“I think you can have an event like this that is COVID-safer. Nothing can be totally COVIDSafe. But all these things are doable. You can go to a march in a mask. That is a do-able thing.”

Veterans hope the Anzac Day parade will go ahead in some form after being cancelled. Picture: Jason Edwards

Deakin University Professor Catherine Bennett said the vaccine rollout would be well progressed by April 25, with people aged over 70 due to get the jab next month.

“That will include the highest risk people who would be involved in the parade,’’ she said.

“It’s about really managing it well. “Not just the march itself but the marshalling at the start and end.

“Reduced numbers makes that more feasible.”

RSL Victoria has declared it wants a “meaningful” march.

Reducing numbers such as by including veterans only, temperature checks and preregistering participants will be likely considerations in its talks.

Naval Association of Australia Victorian president Peter Tanner said marchers could start at different points to disperse numbers and be put into different zones at the Shrine.

“We would love it to proceed,’’ he said. “We would be disappointed if it was not there at all in some form.”

National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Australia state president Owen Marshall said about 30 of its members took part in the city march.

“I know veterans who can still march would sincerely like that to happen,’’ he said.