SOMERSET Regional Council has postponed a series of events to help minimise the impact of coronavirus on the community.
Mayor Graeme Lehmann said all events planned for Youth Week and the Easter school holidays had been affected.
As well, Strictly Seniors dance classes and the Retiring Rurally information session, both of which were to be held at Somerset Civic Centre, have been postponed.
On the other hand, the Somerset Rail Trail Fun Run or Ride remains scheduled for July 12.
"Council is carefully following advice from state and federal agencies and continues to put the health and well-being of our community first," Councillor Lehmann said.
"Staff are communicating closely with stakeholders involved in major events like the Somerset Art Beat Festival on May 30 and The Brisbane Airshow on July 4 and 5 and at this stage the events will progress as planned."
Councillor Lehmann urged residents to take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by adopting good personal hygiene and keeping close contact to a minimum.
Race meetings across the state, whether covered by the TAB or not, will be patron-free events for the foreseeable future, according to Racing Queensland.
RQ officials have declared all future meetings, as well as trials and trackwork exercise sessions, will be limited to key personnel following the Federal Government's advice all non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people be cancelled to manage the spread of COVID-19.
Access will be limited to licenced participants who have a horse or greyhound engaged at the meeting, along with essential club, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and RQ staff, broadcast services, approved accredited media and associated staff required to conduct racing activities including veterinarians and ambulance services.
Access will not be permitted to the general public in any code, nor owners or on-course wagering providers.
"We are experiencing a unique and complex situation which requires Racing Queensland to adopt a uniform approach," RQ chief executive officer Brendan Parnell said.
"The health and safety of our 40,000 participants, including those who are employed in the industry, remains our top-priority and we will continue to work with our clubs, QRIC and participants to navigate this period.
"We are mindful of the carnivals we have on the horizon - and the impact that this decision may have on our clubs - but it is important that we restrict on-course access in the short-term to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 and the potential impact to our industry."
Additionally, access will not be permitted to any key race-day personnel in Queensland who are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms or otherwise unwell, visited a country considered at higher risk of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, is subject to self-isolation requirements imposed by the Government or been in close contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
Over the next few days there are TAB and non-TAB race meetings in provincial and regional centres - Toowoomba (March 19), Townsville (March 20), Cloncurry, Emerald, Gatton, Gold Coast, Innisfail, Longreach, Springsure and Wandown (March 21) and Kilcoy (March 22).
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
