Australian Fashion Festival shutdown due to coronavirus

The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival is cancelling its remaining programs as the Australian federal government has banned public events of more than 500 people for the time being in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. The ban doesn't come into effect until March 16, but as a precautionary measure they have brought the festival to a screeching halt.

The Melbourne Fashion Festival is a consumer event that typically attracts 400,000 people. “In the interest of the health and safety of our partners, participants, team, volunteers and patrons, the festival has made the decision to cancel all remaining events, effective immediately as a precautionary containment measure,” said event publicist, AMPR, in a statement. Event partner Eventfinda will reimburse tickets.

Coronavirus cases in Australia have recently tripled to 200, with two of those cases involving Academy Award winner Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. The Australian stock market has lost 383 billion dollars so far as global markets took a severe tumble thanks to coronavirus.

IMG has yet to announce what it is doing for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, which was set to take place from May 11 to 15. Over here in the U.S., the stock market has suffered its worst crash since 1987.

photo: via Melbourne Fashion Festival Facebook page