Local Events Being Assessed for Coronavirus Risk

THE government has recommended cancelling all events of more than 500 people and experts anticipate the virus may peak within two to four months, so what does this mean for our local events?

In the next few months the Upper Hunter usually holds several large events including ANZAC Day services, the Scone Cup, the Horse Festival Parade, the Aberdeen Highland Games and the Scone Rodeo.

The Scone Horse Festival has confirmed they are suspending ticket sales for their music event and will meet on Monday to to discuss how the government’s announcement may impact the Festival. 

Inspector Guy Guiana leads Council’s emergency management committee and said they are working with local community groups to assess risk for all events.

Inspector Guy Guiana said they will work with local community groups to assess risk.

“At this stage it is not a ban as such but an advisory, so all of our local community groups will need to do a risk assessment for their events,” said Inspector Guiana.

“Each event is different and the environment it is held in such as indoors or outdoors makes a difference and they need to come up with an assessment that evaluates that risk, then decide if that is an acceptable risk,” he said. 

“As we get more advice from the health authorities in our area we will be able to assess those risks further,” he said.

“Certainly the Upper Hunter won’t be immune and we will continue to talk to the community groups to assess risk,” Inspector Guy Guiana said.

Steve McDonald, general manager of the Upper Hunter Shire Council said Council has been working to implement State and Federal government directives at a local level.

“We are particularly looking at plans around our aged care facilities, child care and all essential services,” said Mr McDonald.

“We need to make sure that all services are covered well and each business has different risk profiles and different needs,” he said.

“We have a range of plans such as working from home if required and a lot of preparation in how we minimise the risk to the broader community,” he said.

“We are getting updates from NSW Health and the Federal government and then look at how those plans will be implemented at the local area and every township is different,” Steven McDonald said.

Related stories:

• Local Advice on Coronavirus – March 13, 2020.
• EDITORIAL: It Gets Worse – March 6, 2020.
• EDITORIAL: Questions for Scone’s Stupidest – March 5, 2020.
• EDITORIAL: Handwashing not HAZMAT – January 31, 2020.