Coronavirus outbreak forces cancellation of Victorian events
Last night’s AFLW game was the last one fans could attend for the foreseeable future as major events across Victoria, including the Melbourne Comedy Festival, are axed due to coronavirus.
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Victorian schools, hospitals and public transport will operate as normal, but footy fans will need a new weekend activity as the government announces a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people.
Luna Park will close as part of the new measures introduced to combat the spread of coronavirus, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday.
But last night’s AFLW match went ahead, with the AFL saying given the late timing fans were permitted to attend the Geelong vs North Melbourne game. All matches from Saturday will be played without fans, with only players, officials and media allowed.
Earlier on Friday, Mr Morrison also advised Australians to reconsider all non-essential overseas travel.
The advice to cancel non-essential mass gatherings is expected to be reviewed daily, but at this stage an end-date for the extraordinary measure has not been set.
Victoria's latest coronavirus event casualties.
— Ian Royall ðŸ (@IanRoyall) March 13, 2020
ðŸ€St Patrick's Day Festival, St Kilda cancelled.
🥩Meatstock Melbourne (BBQ/music) postponed.
🔥 Gippsland Bushfire Concert (Traralgon) postponed.
Many more events on & off here:https://t.co/4MqxGgzWMp @theheraldsun
It will be considered by the new national cabinet, which will hold its first meeting on Sunday.
The Melbourne Comedy Festival, which was due to begin on Monday, has been cancelled.
Talks over the event’s future were held this afternoon, with more details expected to be released shortly.
CLASSES FACING CLOSURE
Pupils are being told to take home their laptops and textbooks, amid rising concerns that schools may soon be closed without warning.
Parents across Melbourne received advice via email on Friday, warning them to be prepared.
Education Minister James Merlino said of Friday’s announcement about the cancellation of “non-essential mass gatherings of more than 500 people” from Monday: “This does not mean the closure of educational services including early childhood centres and schools, as they are considered essential.
“Decisions on school or early childhood centre closures will be made on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer.”
Currently, schools are expected to remain open unless a child or staff member tests positive. Learning from home is an option parents are being prepared for.
According to the latest advice, school excursions will not be affected, but schools are being advised to make alternative plans for international trips and some are calling off overnight camps.
Childcare centres are also adopting a conservative approach, vowing to stay open to support working parents until authorities advise otherwise.
As a precaution, many are banning anyone that has recently travelled overseas.
Goodstart — which provides childcare for 79,000 families — said its centres would watch the government’s advice closely.
In a statement, it said: “We have the resources and information in place to respond quickly, and are ready to provide assistance and advice to our families and our centre teams should the current situation change and the number of cases increase rapidly in Australia.
“We have excluded staff and children where they have travelled to nations with high levels of infection.”
The federal government has unveiled a $14 million fund to help childcare centres hit by the virus. Parents suffering hardship, such as casual workers who suffer a loss of income from self-isolation, may be eligible for the federal additional childcare subsidy.
Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said parents would need to be “resourceful” and even rely on friends in the coming weeks.
She warned against using people who were more vulnerable to the virus — such as grandparents — for childcare.
DEEP CLEANING AT HOTELS, SHOPS, BUSINESSES
Hotels, shops, restaurants and other businesses are extending cleaning procedures amid growing fears over coronavirus.
A Crown casino spokeswoman said the company was giving ongoing advice to staff and guests.
“Crown has strengthened cleaning regimes, is providing alcohol-based hand sanitisers across the complex and has medically trained first aid response teams onsite at all Crown properties,” she said.
The Scentre Group, which owns Westfield shopping centres, said it was closely monitoring the situation.
“We apply the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene across our Westfield centres and have increased the frequency of cleaning high-traffic areas in our centres,” a spokeswoman said.
Village Entertainment CEO Kirk Edwards said measures included “enhanced deep cleaning of areas frequented by guests and employees daily, auditoriums, candy bar and back of house”.
“Where possible guests are encouraged to purchase tickets plus food and beverage online,” he said.
A spokesman for Vicinity Centres, which run Chadstone, said a team was working on preparedness for pandemic situations and was monitoring government advice after the new recommendation against organised non-essential gatherings of 500 people or more.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said: “The hospitality industry, particularly in the CBD, is reeling with uncertainty right now unsure of what to do if the city goes into lockdown.”
“We have members in local trades who are trying their hardest to work through and respond to consumer demands – however, they are facing stock shortages and are bracing themselves to shut up shop once their current supply runs out,” he said.
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EVENTS CANCELLED, POSTPONED SO FAR
RUN4KIDS CANCELLED
The Herald Sun/ Transurban Run for the Kids has been called off amid growing concerns for public health and safety and the spread of the coronavirus.
The decision was made on Friday to cancel the annual Good Friday Appeal fundraiser, which was scheduled for March 29, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced all “non-essential mass gatherings” of more than 500 people should be stopped.
The Kids Day Out event, held on Good Friday, will also no longer go ahead.
The Good Friday Appeal will still continue in the lead up to Easter and Channel 7’s Good Friday Telethon will also be broadcast as usual.
In 2019 the Run for the Kids raised $1.5 million, while Kids Day Out saw 85,000 people turn out in support.
IT’S LEGAL BUSINESS AS USUAL
Victorian courts will continue to operate as usual despite the coronavirus pandemic.
While the NSW Supreme Court this week announced changes to its sitting procedures, Court Services Victoria said hearings would continue as normal.
“Victoria’s courts and VCAT are operating as usual,” CSV communications manager Jenni Coady said.
“Each jurisdiction has provided on their website, contact points for anyone who has questions about attending or visiting court, as requests for adjournments will be considered in the usual way.
“The courts and VCAT are closely following state and Commonwealth information and advice, and Court Services Victoria’s emergency management team has met to discuss the issue and will co-ordinate any response as required.”
Ms Coady said extra hand sanitisers had been placed around court buildings.
A County Court trial was adjourned after a juror sought testing for the coronavirus disease.
The other jury members will be informed of the result.
From March 23 the NSW Supreme Court will implement new procedures to minimise the need for parties to attend court.
Registrars’ Lists will be conducted as much as possible either by the online court or by telephone link and, in contentious matters, by videolink.
A similar approach will be taken in Judges’ Lists.
There will be no changes to the way the Criminal Lists and current Supreme Court jury trials are being heard.
A senior Victorian official said court staff were making plans for all contingencies.
NINE NEW VIC CASES
Nine new coronavirus cases have been identified in Victoria, including the first confirmed case where the disease was transmitted within the community here.
Six men and three women aged between 20 and 70 are now all recovering at home in isolation.
Seven of them had recently travelled overseas, but the Department of Health said one had “no history of travel or contact with a confirmed case”.
One of the confirmed cases had attended the Golden Plains music festival but was not unwell at the event, and the department said “no further action is required by festival goers”.
It comes as the Chief Health Officer has told the nation’s leaders mass gatherings attended by more than 500 people – including football games, concerts and conferences – should be cancelled.
Professor Brendan Murphy urged the extraordinary action to combat the coronavirus crisis at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Sydney today.
It would throw the AFL season into chaos before it is due to kick off next week, and would also likely force mass shutdowns of universities and schools.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders are expected to speak in the next hour, once the COAG meeting has wrapped up.
It follows the decision to cancel the Grand Prix in Melbourne after Victoria’s first recorded case of community transmission of the virus.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the first case of community transmission fed into his updated advice to the government that led to the cancellation of the Grand Prix.
“There have been a number of new developments in the past 24 hours. This includes the positive test in a Formula One team member, the rapidly changing threat posed by the spread of the virus in Europe, and the cancellation and suspension of other mass gathering events around the world,” he said.
“I am reviewing this rapidly evolving situation daily and will be discussing recommendations around future mass gatherings with my Federal and State counterparts at today’s Australian Health Protection Principal Committee meeting.”
“My advice will continue to be focused on doing whatever is necessary to minimise the spread of infection and keep Victorians safe.”
New public exposure sites linked to the new cases include two Qantas flights – QF430 from Melbourne to Sydney and QF459 from Sydney to Melbourne – on March 9.
One person had attended Mary Miller Cafe in Fitzroy North on March 10 and another visited the No. 19 cafe in Ascot Vale on the same day.
Travellers may also have been exposed on Emirates flight EK0406 from Dubai to Melbourne, which landed on March 10.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS CANCELS GIG
Robbie Williams’ has cancelled his Melbourne show which was due to take place on Saturday night, next to the Grand Prix site in Albert Park.
“I’ll be turning up. I really want to come to Australia when I can and I’ve been looking forward to this for months,” Williams said yesterday.
“I’m looking forward to the gig. Love an Aussie audience, didn’t want to let people down.
Fans will receive a full refund and will be contacted by Ticketek shortly.
[THREAD] Following on from the decision of Formula 1 and the FIA, with the support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) to cancel all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix, World Tour’s show on Saturday 14th March with Robbie Williams is cancelled.
— World Tour (@worldtour) March 13, 2020
POLICE ROAD TESTING TO GO AHEAD
Drug and alcohol testing of drivers will continue as Victoria Police seeks advice on whether more safety measures are needed against coronavirus.
The force said on Friday it wanted guidance from Chief Medical Officer Andrew Wilson before it made any changes.
Senior police met on Friday to discuss potential implications for its operations from the threat of the disease and how to plan against it.
There are millions of alcohol breath-tests a year conducted in Victoria and it is expected 150,000 saliva-based roadside drug tests will be carried out this financial year.
The Police Association on Friday raised concerns about the safety of members operating testing sites.
“We remain concerned about the safety of our members, who are continuing to conduct breath tests without the personal protective equipment that advice from medical professionals suggest should be worn to control infection while conducting these activities,” association secretary Wayne Gatt said. “We will consider issuing our own safety instructions to our members if this matter is not quickly and satisfactorily resolved.”
A Victoria Police statement said the force was monitoring the outbreak and any potential impact on its operations from the “ever-evolving situation”.
One of those was conducting preliminary breath-testing but the statement said the initial advice was current measures were adequate and gloves worn by members did not need to be changed for every sample.
A source said it would be folly to ban people attending major sporting events then expect police working breath-testing stations to conduct dozens of examinations an hour on members of the public where saliva was present.
The Herald Sun has been told a number of police members have self-isolated as a precaution. They had been because of coming into contact with people suspected of being infected or after returning from overseas.
FOURTH MELBOURNE SCHOOL SHUTS DOWN
Westbourne Grammar School has become the fourth Melbourne school to shut down due to COVID-19.
The school confirmed a senior student was currently being tested for coronavirus.
The school will be from on Friday 13 March to Monday 16 March.
Meg Hansen, Westbourne principal confirmed the school had commenced the online delivery of its educational programs.
“We are continuing to provide all our stakeholders with information by email and text, as further news becomes available,” said Ms Hansen.
“Westbourne is responding to all and any government, health department and other directions as required. Teachers have advised students regarding their schoolwork for Friday and Monday to address continuity of educational outcomes.”
APS sporting competitions have been called off for rest of Term 1, with the exception of First Team sport.
The APS swimming and diving finals, and the APS Regatta (Heads of the River) will be attended by competitors and parents only, while staff will attend in limited numbers to supervise competitors.
MUSIC FESTIVAL JOINS LONG LIST OF CANCELLED EVENTS
Rock festival Download – headlined by US band My Chemical Romance – has been cancelled amid coronavirus fears.
The event was due to take place at Melbourne Showgrounds on March 20 and Sydney’s The Domain on March 21. Punters will receive refunds.
Fans feared the worst yesterday when My Chemical Romance, who reformed last year, cancelled their Japanese visit.
Download was also due to feature Deftones, Jimmy Eat World, Clutch, Ministry and more.
FULL LIST: EVENTS CANCELLED, POSTPONED SO FAR
Download’s sudden cancellation comes as rumours surrounding other major festivals including Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay which is tipped to be moving to later this year, similar to Coachella. Promoters have been approached for comment.
The global touring market is being hit hard by coronavirus fears, with artists not wanting to travel and fans hesitant to buy tickets.
Live Performance Australia have called on the Federal Government to provide support for Australia’s $2.5 billion live performance industry which is being hit by the coronavirus.
“We’re already seeing cancellation of events and touring programs across the country. We expect this to get worse with the industry losing hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs,” LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said.
MELBOURNE GP OFFICIALLY CANCELLED
The Australian Formula One Grand Prix has officially been called off due to coronavirus fears.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation and Formula One chiefs this morning took the unprecedented decision to suspend the race indefinitely.
Race and F1 chiefs met this morning to discuss the fallout and made the call after consultation with health authorities and teams from around the world.
It comes as spectators were this morning told they would not be allowed to attend this weekend’s event in Melbourne due to concerns of the potential spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Victorian taxpayers may not know for weeks if they have to foot the bill for the Melbourne Grand Prix.
As more than 12,000 staff and 600 suppliers packed up the temporary circuit on Thursday, it was unclear if the public would have to pay about $60 million to F1 Management.
Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott said the financial implications of the cancellation were still to be resolved.
“A cancellation of this nature has a lot of consequences and some of those are contractual and financial,” he said.
“We will work those through with the commercial rights holder in the days and weeks following this announcement and we will be making sure that appropriate contractual measures are looked after.”
F1 officials did not respond to questions about the race fee or which teams were willing to race once the McLaren staffer tested positive to the disease.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government would not bail out Victoria if F1 management lumped Melbourne with the fee despite the cancellation.
But the Herald Sun believes the Grand Prix Corporation will also explore claims through the state government’s insurance agency, the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority.
POPULAR EVENTS, AFL UNDER CLOUD
Premier Daniel Andrews has been unable to guarantee the opening round of the AFL season will proceed as planned next week, after the government moved to prevent fans attending the Grand Prix.
Mr Andrews said this morning it was “deeply frustrating” that he could not say “if there will be footy next week”.
“I’m simply not in a position to do that,” he said.
“There are very detailed discussion going on with Gill McLachlan and his team at the AFL. They will have to confront some of these issues as well, whether they proceed and if they do proceed, if they can with fans.”
“I have been clear all week that this would be disruptive, that we would be asking of Victorians, and indeed Australians, things they’ve never been asked before.”
“That is very frustrating but you’ve got to be guided by the advice. The nature of these pandemics is that the advice changes very, very rapidly.”
Mr Andrews said the AFL and the government would make a decision based on advice from medical experts.
“If we don’t do everything we can to reduce the number of people who get the virus then we will only add to the number of people, particularly vulnerable people, who end up gravely ill,” he said.
“If we don’t take all necessary steps, more people will die. That is not something any of us should settle for.”
Organisers of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show are reviewing the latest public health advice before making any decision about whether the event would proceed.
Show displays are already being set up in Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building for the 25th anniversary of the annual festival which is scheduled to run from March 25 to 29.
At this stage, the event is still on but that could change in coming days.
No decision has been made yet on the Run for the Kids event, scheduled for March 29.
Race organisers said in a statement this morning: “At this stage, no decision has been made to cancel the event, however, we are continually monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation & reviewing all aspects of the event.
One of the Yarra Valley’s most popular flower festivals, which gets more than 60,000 visitors, has been cancelled
Tesselaar Tulip Farm has cancelled its third annual KaBloom festival, which was due to run for three weeks from March 28 to April 19.
This is the latest blow to tourism in the Yarra Ranges as the brakes were put on popular tourist attractions across the municipality during their peak season thanks to bushfire smoke and the coronavirus
FLIGHT CENTRE BRANCHES TO CLOSE
Flight Centre will close up to 100 underperforming stores before June 30 as the coronavirus continues to cripple the global travel industry.
The underperforming stores are expected to close within months and sales staff redeployed to fill existing vacancies in other shops.
What stores will close has not yet been revealed by the company.
Flexible working arrangements will be offered, store trading hours reduced and staff urged to take leave as part of the cost-cutting measures.
AUSSIE DOLLAR HITS 12-YEAR LOW
The Aussie dollar plunged to a near 12-year low of 62.13 US cents amid the coronavirus pandemic that is shaking global financial markets.
The dollar had not sunk this low against the greenback since the GFC-lows of November 2008.
The early-morning fall came as the US dollar spiked overnight in what IG’s Kyle Rodda described as choppy trade.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell by almost 10 per cent, as coronavirus fears escalated — making it Wall St’s biggest decline since the stock market crash of 1987.
Additional reporting by Laura Armitage, James Mottershead, Shannon Deery, Alex White and Ian Royall.