OUR NEW NORMAL
Big private school shut for five weeks Football code halts season start to May More events axed to slow the spread
THE Gold Coast has no new coronavirus cases but swift action to slow its spread is seeing major events, sports fixtures and ANZAC Day commemorations all become the latest casualties.
One of the city’s biggest schools will shut from Friday with its principal saying it gives parents “certainty in uncertain times”.
A BIG Gold Coast school is moving 1500 students to online learning – one of a string of shutdowns to hit sport, ANZAC Day and events in a united bid to slow coronavirus spreading.
In developments yesterday on the Gold Coast despite no new cases:
All Saints Anglican School revealed – despite no positive tests by staff or students – all lessons will be online to aid “social distancing” from Friday.
Bundall’s Home of the Arts (HOTA) will close until the end of the month, famed Broadbeach theatre restaurant Dracula’s suspended shows for two weeks and May’s giant Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show was postponed till later in 2020.
State public transport cleans to be ramped up following Gold Coast tram daily cleans kicking in.
RSL Queensland told sub-branches to axe ANZAC Day commemorations.
Queensland Rugby Union suspended competitions/training including the Gold Coast until May 2.
Racing Queensland banned patrons from race day meetings.
The looming AFL season was cut from 23 rounds to 17 with the first four weeks proceeding to give time to reconfigure its draw.
New jury trials suspended.
No new coronavirus cases were reported on the Gold Coast yesterday but the state total grew to 68. Nine infected patients are at Gold Coast hospitals including Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson. A beautician, 63, has recovered, and left hospital, the Bulletin understands.
The Gold Coast University Hospital has successfully treated six coronavirus patients, all now discharged.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison opted on Sunday to keep schools open but Merrimac’s All Saints Anglican School will not reopen until after next month’s Easter break.
Principal Patrick Wallace said it gave parents “certainty in uncertain times”.
But he said the school would allow kids of emergency and health workers to return to campus with staff volunteering to come in.
The school was the city’s first to announce measures to quarantine boarding students who returned from outbreak source Wuhan in China.
All assessments at the school are postponed with the possible exception of Year 12 exams due next week. It is understood the school is working on other options for these students.
“The people I have been listening to is the doctors who are parents at our school. We believe with the recent spike in infections the sooner you close the better,” Mr Wallace said.
“We know children tend to be asymptomatic but are incredibly contagious and we have had two staff who are immunity suppressed, I’d never forgive myself if anything happened.
“We must rally together and, as our Prime Minister has suggested, ‘look after each other’. “The virus will pass. In the meantime it is incumbent upon all of us to make the very best of a challenging situation.”
Dracula’s, suspending all shows from today, said it was an “essential action for the health of the Australian public and a socially responsible action to take”.
It would offer financial packages to all staff during the “difficult time”.
Dracula’s ticketholders would be offered date transfers or refunds.
HOTA’s closure means the GC Laughs Festival, the GC Film Festival, and other events are axed.
HOTA said: “The health and wellbeing of our community, artists and staff is of paramount importance.”
HOTA chairman Ned Pankhurst added: “There is no way organisations like HOTA or any other creative arts venues, will not be able to escape the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic without some impact.”
Ticketholders would be contacted about refunds.
Byron Bay’s Easter Bluesfest held since 1990 is another casualty. Headliners for April 9-13 included Crowded House, John Butler and Patti Smith.
Bluesfest executive chair Peter Noble said: “It is obvi
ous we will not be on this Easter. We are heartbroken as we believe we were presenting one of the best-ever bills of talent.”
RSL Queensland president Tony Ferris said it was working on options to mark ANZAC Day without putting veterans or the rest of the public at risk.
“Our older veterans are particularly at risk, so we believe this is the responsible thing to do. It’s very sad we are not able to commemorate ANZAC Day in time-honoured fashion but a public commemoration is not worth risking the health of our older veterans, family members or members of the public.”
Chief Justice Catherine Holmes and Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien yesterday said any new jury trials would not start to help prevent the spread of the virus. Criminal trials which have already started will continue until their conclusion. Other cases will proceed. Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said cleaning on public transport would ramp up: “(It) is an essential service. It’s critical we ensure people continue to have confidence when travelling on buses, trains, trams and ferries.”
Broadbeach Alliance is yet to decide if its Groundwater Country Music Festival (July 24-26) and Blues on Broadbeach (May 15-17), will be held.
It is unclear if Surfers Paradise LIVE (April 30-May 3), Gold Coast Music Awards (April 30) and SeaFire (June 12-13) will proceed. A Surfers Paradise Alliance board decision will be made this week.
The Gold Coast Marathon – which injected $34.5 million into the economy last year and brought 46,000 visitors – is planning to go ahead.
Events Queensland CEO Cam Hart said they “haven’t made a decision to cancel at this stage – we will keep powering ahead”.
The Drop Festival at Coolangatta on March 28 is yet to announce its status as is Splendour In The Grass (July 24-26).
Sanctuary Cove boat show organisers stated exhibitor and patron safety was paramount in light of the ban on 500-plus gatherings.
WIDESPREAD IMPACTS: SEE SPORT