Name: Vivid Festival cancelled as coronavirus infections rise
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Vivid Festival cancelled as coronavirus infections rise

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Vivid Festival cancelled as coronavirus infections riseWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementSydney's annual festival of music and lights will not go ahead, joining the wave of cultural, sporting and religious events that have been axed in response to the government's practical ban on gatherings of more than 500 people.The state government's cancellation of the Vivid Festival, which was scheduled to start in late May, suggests that other events set to happen in the interim, including Anzac Day commemorations, may also be postponed.A tweet on the Vivid Sydney official account early on Sunday said the 2020 festival "has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people."Vivid Sydney "will shine brighter than ever in 2021", the tweet said.The news came as health authorities confirmed another 20 cases of coronavirus in NSW — the largest jump in a day so far — taking the state total to 112 and the national count to more than 200.Seven of people who were confirmed to have the virus on Saturday had travelled overseas, NSW Health said in a statement. There were 13 new coronavirus cases in Victoria, 11 in Queensland and three in Western Australia.Global technology giant Apple announced it would close its stores on Saturday night and ask all staff who can to work from home in a move that will put pressure on other retailers to follow suit."Extensive, deep cleaning will continue at all sites," the company's chief executive Tim Cook said. "In all our offices, we are rolling out new health screenings and temperature checks."AdvertisementReligious organisations in different ways. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney will call off all events with more than 500 attendees from Monday and the Hillsong Church will do the same."My prayer is that our whole church will be committed to still gathering even if that means online which is a good and viable option,” the church’s pastor Brian Houston said.Other churches have taken a much more controversial path, insisting that their faith will protect them from COVID-19. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese told the ABC it would keep sharing a spoon and cup of wine between congregants at services.And tennis star-turned hardline preacher Margaret Court's Victory Life Centre in Western Australia wrote on its website that the virus "will not come near our dwelling or our church family" because they are "protected by the Blood of Jesus".In Victoria, the well-known private school Geelong Grammar , though public schools remain open nationwide. Principal Rebecca Cody described it as a "highly precautionary" measure.The state's courts have , putting huge pressure on the justice system.Cruise companies Carnival, P&amp;O Australia and Princess Cruises . Princess will not sail for 60 days while the others are shut down for 30 days.P&amp;O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmell said the cruise line was confident it could maintain a healthy onboard environment but had decided to pause operations to support governments in their efforts to contain the pandemic.Cruise ships, among them the notorious Diamond Princess that saw hundreds of infections off the Japanese coast, have helped spread the virus.Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the NSW government had not taken the decision to shut down Vivid lightly."We have taken the decision early in consideration of those planning to travel to Sydney for the festival," Mr Ayres said.About 2.7 million people visited Vivid events last year, making it one of NSW's key tourism drawcards.With Jenny NoyesLog in, or to save articles for later. is the technology editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Sydney. He is a former industrial relations and politics reporter.Advertisement

Vivid Festival cancelled as coronavirus infections riseWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementSydney's annual festival of music and lights will not go ahead, joining the wave of cultural, sporting and religious events that have been axed in response to the government's practical ban on gatherings of more than 500 people.The state government's cancellation of the Vivid Festival, which was scheduled...

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Nick Bonyhady

The Sydney Morning Herald - Australia's leading news source. Independent. Always.

Vivid Festival cancelled as coronavirus infections rise

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