Coronavirus continues to impact the live events and arts industries as public gatherings and travel are banned in an increasing number of countries globally.
Malaysia has announced some of the most far-reaching measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which includes a “comprehensive restriction on movements and public gatherings.”
The country’s control order, which will start on Wednesday and last until the end of the month, includes a ban on sports, religious, social and cultural activities.
Malaysian citizens have been banned from traveling abroad, while tourists and visitors will be banned from entering the country.
The Philippines and Thailand have also introduced restrictive measures to prevent further infections, with Thailand’s cabinet to meet today to decide on enacting measures restricting public gatherings, closing schools, sport arenas and Muay Thai boxing rings.
For Thailand, this would mean cancelling the annual Songkran New Year water festival, which attracts millions of visitors each year who take part in mass water fights.
Elsewhere, the Taj Mahal in India, one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, has been closed in an attempt to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Dozens of other protected monuments and museums have also been ordered to shut down, including the Ajanta and Ellora caves and religious sites such as the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.
The US has also brought in measures designed to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
President Donald Trump said people should not gather in groups of more than 10 and requested that people stay away from bars, restaurants and food courts for the next 15 days, and to not travel if possible.
Back in Europe, Germany has offered €550bn in aid to businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus.
Germany’s state development bank, the KfW, said the cash injection is just “for starters” and that “there is no upper limit to the credit offered by the KfW, that’s the most important message.”
The German government has recommended cancelling gatherings of more than 1,000 people, and culture minister Monika Grütters said the financial support will also benefit the creative industries.
Image: Ninara
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