Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy tells premiers, chief ministers and the Prime Minister that mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled.

Updated
March 13, 2020 13:55:48
Australia’s chief medical officer has told premiers, chief ministers and the Prime Minister that mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled amid fears about the spread of coronavirus.
The leaders are currently considering that advice at a meeting in Sydney.
The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne had already been cancelled today, and spectators for cricket games banned.
Questions about crowds have also been hanging over NRL, soccer and AFL matches.
A press conference is expected after the leaders’ COAG meeting finishes this afternoon.
A senior West Australian doctor has called for all schools to be closed soon and for there to be no crowds allowed at events as the coronavirus spreads, declaring he wants his colleagues to stay alive.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese earlier on Friday both said they planned to go to the football this weekend.
Mr Morrison said it was up to states and individual organisations to decide whether major gatherings should go ahead, based on medical advice.
But WA Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Andrew Miller posted on social media: “You want to go to the footy? I want my colleagues to stay alive.”
He finished the tweet by declaring “this is not a game”.
More to come.
Topics:government-and-politics,
motor-sports,
sport,
infectious-diseases-other,
diseases-and-disorders,
health,
federal-parliament,
federal-government,
federal—state-issues,
respiratory-diseases,
australia
First posted
March 13, 2020 13:44:58