Brisbane’s Paniyiri Greek Festival was cancelled for the first time in over 40 years as anxiety about a coronavirus outbreak continues to rise.
Paniyiri is the country’s longest-running Greek festival and typically attracts thousands of visitors to celebrate Greek food and culture.
The chairman of the organising committee for the event Chris Kazonis said the decision was made after a consultation with the World Health Organisation, Queensland Government and Queensland Health.
It was decided that hosting the event, which was scheduled for May 23 and 24, would put both patrons and workers at risk of contracting and spreading the virus.