Australia PM Resists Pressure to Cancel Large Events Amid Virus
Australia PM Resists Pressure to Cancel Large Events Amid Virus
(Bloomberg) -- Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison is resisting pressure to order the cancellation of mass gatherings, including sporting events such as this weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, as cases of coronavirus in the nation rise.
“Each of these organizations will make their own decisions about these events,” Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Friday. The prime minister, a passionate rugby league fan, said he intends to attend a match in the city on Saturday that’s expected to draw thousands of spectators. “I’m looking forward to the game,” he said.
The stance of Morrison’s conservative government is at odds with the advice of some infectious-disease experts, who are urging it to follow the example of places like Taiwan and Singapore that have limited new cases through blanket-bans of sporting events, concerts and other mass gatherings. The main Labor opposition has also called for “draconian” measures to limit the outbreak.
The nation’s official tally of confirmed cases stood at 126 on Thursday, up 13% from the previous day, with three fatalities.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jason Scott in Canberra at jscott14@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Rebecca Jones
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