While Friday’s announcement that all public events with a capacity over 500 saw the cancellation of events like the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – the entertainment industry is adapting by pushing its major events back to later in the year.
That being the case the Melbourne International RAW Comedy national heats and state finals WILL still go ahead, meaning that Mullumbimby will have one of the final NSW heats tonight! With attendance well under 200 this makes the gathering well within the guidelines and provides the local community a much-needed chance to destress through a bit of laughter.
The Melbourne Comedy Festival released a statement over the weekend about the closure of their iconic event.
‘Regretfully the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is not going ahead. We took this action to support the community’s efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). With many hundreds of thousands of audience members about to descend on the city this was a difficult but necessary decision.
Currently, Australia does not have widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and the Australian Government advises that, effective from Monday 16 March, organised, non-essential gatherings should be limited to 500 people.’
The Festival does encourage any participants in the event of attendees to practice good hygiene habits. If anyone feels unwell they should advice immediately and not attend. Regular hand washing is recommended.
As per current health advice regarding COVID-19, the following people are advised not to attend and instead self-isolate and seek medical advice:
- Anyone who has a fever or acute respiratory infection and has been in mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy or transited through on or after 1 February 2020 until 14 days after they were last in a listed country.
- Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days prior to onset of illness.
For a good laugh in hard times – come to RAW comedy at the Mullumbimby Ex Services tonight at 8pm. Tix are $15 on the door or on mandynolan.com.au
Sometimes the best way to stop the hysteria is with hysterical laughter. MC Mandy Nolan – see who goes through to the QLD State final!
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