Less than a week after announcing a ban on non-essential gatherings of over 500 people, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced tough new limits on indoor crowd, now banning non-essential indoor gatherings of over 100 people in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak.
In the days following the original ban, a number of festivals and events were forced to reschedule or cancel all together, including the likes of Byron Bay Bluesfest, Groovin The Moo, and Splendour in the Grass.
With hope at the time for smaller, indoor events, now the immediate future of live music is very uncertain.
The ban was announced this morning during a press conference in which Morrison specified what constitutes an essential gathering. This includes airports, public transport, hotels, prisons, courts, shopping centres, offices and factories, and construction sites.
The new ban will pose a threat to restaurants, cinemas and pubs, and could see venues closing as a result.
In addition to the new rules around indoor gatherings, Morrison has advised against any international travel.
