Coronavirus latest news: updated Thursday 9 April March

The latest updates on how COVID-19 is affecting the night time economy globally, and relief initiatives being announced.

As developments unfold in real time, we’re providing a summary of the impacts of the novel coronavirus on the nightlife ecosystem around the world.

Last updated: 5:00pm AEST Thursday 9 April 

9 April

• The JobKeeper Payment was passed in Australia’s Federal Parliament on April 8. Whilst a significant number of sole traders will be eligible, casual workers employed for less than 12 months and many seasonal workers in the night time economy will miss out on the JobKeeper relief. Fact sheet here.
• The Australian government today announced $10 million funding for crisis relief charity Support Act. Further information on the framework for financial relief is expected soon, but applications are currently open here.
• Australia Council for the Arts has opened applications for its Resilience Fund, directing approximately $5 million to provide emergency relief to support the livelihoods, practice and operations of Australian artists, groups and organisations.
• City of Sydney has opened applications for its Cultural Sector Resilience Grants; Creative Fellowship Grants; Community Services Grants and Small Business Grants.
• City of Melbourne is offering $2 million in grants to artists and creatives to invest in new works, and digital presentation of works and performances.
• As a part of City of Perth’s Relief and Rebound Plan, the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund is a $159 million commitment in funding for grants which are available to not-for-profit community and artist organisations.
• Arts Queensland is implementing a number of measures to support the Queensland arts sector. This includes a $500,000 boost to the Individuals Fund; increased funding of $2 million for the QLD Arts Showcase Program; and a suspension of the Organisations Fund 2021 – 2024 so they can prioritise business sustainability rather than focus on the long-term planning that is required as part of the application process.
• South Australia’s Government is implementing COVID-19 Arts Grant Support, focussed on individuals and small to medium organisations.
• The ACT Government has launched its Homefront grants program, a $500,000 fund directing individual grants of $10,000 for Canberra artists who have lost their income and ability to maintain their arts practice as a result of COVID-19.
• NSW Government’s arts agency Create NSW has redefined its Small Project Grants to address the current situation of social distancing and the cancellation of non-essential travel. Applications for between $500 and $5,000 quick turnaround grants are currently open.
• The Tasmanian Government is delivering new funding of $1.5 million and introduce new operational measures of over $2 million to support the individuals and organisations leading Tasmania’s renowned cultural sector. The Cultural and Creative Industries Stimulus Package includes the Tasmanian Contemporary Music Fund and the Arts and Screen Digital Production Fund.
• The Northern Territory Government has opened applications for its Small Business Survival Fund. It will also deliver a $1 million reprioritised funding program to support the arts sector with a focus on artists, arts workers, arts groups and not-for-profit arts organisations.

23 March

Australian news:

• Australia’s Prime Minister and Treasurer on Sunday announced a further AUD66 million relief package. This includes the Coronavirus Supplement for income support for individuals including for sole traders and the self employed, and cash flow support for businesses. Fact sheet for income support for individuals here and fact sheet for cash flow assistance for businesses here. The Victorian Music Development Office has published a handy breakdown of this package for the creative industries.
• In response to the relief package announced on Sunday Australian time, Live Performance Australia has again urged the Australian Government for targeted relief for the live performance sector.
• Victoria’s Premier has announced a shut down of all non-essential activity across the state. Statement here.
• The Australian Government has announced new restrictions on non-essential businesses from midday local time Monday 23 March. Prime Minister’s statement here.
• Latest data from I Lost My Gig Australia shows Total lost income from cancelled events: $280M; People impacted by event cancellations: 500k; Number of gigs/events: 255k.
• Night Time Industries Association has launched Keep Our Venues Alive. Modelled on I Lost My Gig, it is capturing data from venue owners, venue employees and workers and venue suppliers. Those in our Australian community are urged to share with their venue networks so this important data is captured and communicated to government and other peak bodies.
• Local Government Authorities (councils) around the country are introducing a suite of responses to the COVID-19 crisis:
  • City of Sydney COVID-19 response
  • City of Melbourne COVID-19 response
  • Brisbane City Council COVID-19 response
  • City of Adelaide COVID-19 response
  • City of Perth COVID-19 response

18 March

• New York Mayor Bill de Blasio says he may issue a ‘shelter in place’ order in the next 48 hours.
• Australia’s Prime Minister has just announced that non-essential gatherings of over 100 people indoors are now banned. This includes churches, mosques and synagogues. Gatherings of over 500 outdoors at non-essential events are also banned.
• The European Commission has found a DKK 91 million (€12 million) Danish aid scheme to compensate event organisers for the damage suffered due to the cancellation of large events with more than 1,000 participants due to the COVID-19 outbreak to be in line with EU State aid rules.
• Representatives from Australia’a music industry coalition took part in a cultural sector teleconference yesterday with the Hon. Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts. Following this teleconference and a music industry specific briefing, Live Performance Australia called for an AUD 850m support and stimulus package, and urged Commonwealth, State and territory governments to develop an industry specific plan.
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked Boris Johnson for vastly increased financial relief for London businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Khan has specifically asked for support for clubs, pubs and theatres.
• NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a AUD2.3 billion stimulus package, which includes AUD80m to waive a range of fees and charges for small businesses including bars, cafes and restaurants.
• A cross-sector coalition of San Fran Bay Area nightlife venue owners, artists, activists, and nonprofit leaders announced yesterday the formation of a queer nightlife fund for workers in the nightlife industry. 
• West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced a AUD607m stimulus package for businesses and households. The package includes AUD114m in additional measures to support small business.
• Hospitality leaders in Manchester have set up a pay-it-forward voucher scheme to help local bars and restaurants through the COVID-19 crisis.
• The Spanish government will implement a relief package including a moratorium on the payment of mortgages for workers affected by the crisis; a ban on cutting electricity,  water and telecommunications for vulnerable families; and flexibility of the Temporary Employment Regulation Files.
• Office of Nightlife NY is surveying nightlife workers, freelancers and businesses impacted by COVID-19. For those in our New York network, please spread this far and wide to capture this important data. http://bit.ly/nycnightlifecovidsurvey
• I Lost My Gig AU/NZ has published the latest update of its survey. As at 3:40pm AEST Tuesday it has recorded Total lost income from cancelled events: $100M; Total number of people impacted: 380,000; Total number of gig/events cancelled: 65,000.
• Clubcommission Berlin has lunched its crowdfunding campaign United We Stream. In partnership with ARTE concert, United We Stream will show the streaming platform of Berlin clubs, organisers and artists and on one channel the whole range and variety of the Berlin club scene. In addition to the live broadcast of DJ sets, live music and performances, United We Stream will also be a platform for round tables, lectures and films on club culture topics.
• Australian airline Qantas has announced it will slash 90% of its international capacity until at least end of May. Virgin Australia has announced this morning that it will suspend all international flights until June 14 and further cuts to domestic services during this time.
• Sounds Royalties LLC has announced a USD 20m no-fee advance fund for artist, producers and songwriters. Other Public Rights Organisations (PROs) have started to publish statements regarding COVID-19, but at the time of this post no further royalty advance mechanisms have been announced by other PROs. Statements have been released from PRS; SACEM; APRA AMCOS NZ; APRA AMCOS AU.
• Splendour in the Grass has announced that the festival will be rescheduled to October 23 – 25.
• Co Founder of Mumbai Culture Building and Marketing Company Homegrown has published a suite of recommendations for the music sector to support the ecosystem during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Iconic house music record label and festival brand Defected has announced its virtual festival on 20 March, live streamed on YouTube and Facebook.

17 March

• NYC Hospitality Alliance have released a 9 point Mitigation and Support Plan for New York Restaurants and Nightlife Establishments in response to COVID-19.
• Creative Capital in Australia have published a list of arts resources during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Ireland’s Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which includes the self-employed.

16 March

• NYC Mayor de Blasio has announced that effective Tuesday, March 17th at 9am local time restaurants, bars, and cafes can provide take-out and delivery only. No dine-in. Full closure is enforced for Bars with no food; Clubs; Movie theatres; Smaller theatres; Concert venues.
• Byron Bay Bluesfest has announced it is cancelling the festival for the first time in 30 years.
• In the retail sector Spain has closed most retail outlets, Australian supermarket chains have announced plans for dedicated shopping hours for elderly people and people with disability in response to panic purchasing. Woolworths have announced dedicated shopping times will be effective from Tuesday 17 March 7am AEST until Friday 20 March.
• The Guardian reports that the UK’s biggest pub group has warned its publicans that their existing insurance policies will not cover them for loss of business because of coronavirus.
• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced a city wide shutdown of bars, restaurants, clubs and entertainment establishments  until March 31.
• Starting immediately, VibeLab will be providing weekly updates for both industry and event attendees on available support, recommended strategies and relevant news via their nighttime.org platform.

15 March

• Australia’s Prime Minister has announced a country wide restriction of gatherings of 500 people or more, effective from Monday 16 March.
• The Australian Music Industry Network and the Australian Festival Association have joined forces to lead a coalition which also includes APRA AMCOS, ARIA, Australian Hotels Association, PPCA, Live Performance Australia, AIR, Australian Artist Managers, Electronic Music Conference and the Live Music Office. The coalition is urging the Australian Government to consider the music and hospitality sectors in its response to the worsening COVID-19 crisis. The coalition has also launched I Lost My Gig Australia – an outreach initiative to quantify the severity of the urgent needs of individuals, businesses and organisations within these sectors. In the first 24 hours of launching the survey, the estimates are AUD47 million in lost income, 190,000 jobs impacted and 20,000 gigs cancelled.
• Cultural institutions in Australia have announced closures or suspension of public programs from Sunday 15 March. Arts Centre Melbourne’s venues will be closed to the public until April 12. Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Museum’s Discovery Centre will suspend all public and education programs until 12 April. The museum’s public and exhibition spaces will continue to remain open.
• US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted the urgent needs of the hospitality sector and the request to relief of the payment of fees, penalties and taxes. 
• The Illinois Governor announced a statewide shutdown of bars and restaurants until March 30.
• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new guidelines further to the limits on gatherings of over 250 people, including an order to shut down licensed nightclubs, the suspension of bar seating and limitations on the number of people per table at eating establishments.
• Sydney’s annual Vivid festival has been cancelled following recommendations from the Australian government to limit gatherings to less than 500 people. The 2019 festival saw a record 2.4 million people, and is reported to contribute over AUD 172 million to the NSW economy. Statement here

12 March

• The Dutch Government announced a ban on events of more than 100 people in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that these measures would remain in place until at least March 31.
• NY Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a reduced capacity of 50% for all venues in the state seating 500 people or less.

11 March

• UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced further relief for small venues in the 2020 budget. Following the announcement of a 50% reduction in business rates in January, and UK Music requesting further urgent support for the music sector, the chancellor has announced that small, grassroots venues will be exempt from paying any business rates at all in 2020.
• Berlin’s Clubcommission announced a task force and held a crisis meeting held with almost 50 club operators and organisers. This meeting resulted in a catalog of measures with recommendations that will be used in Berlin clubs from the weekend of March 13-15. Clubcommission’s statement is here.

5 March

• Techno artist Dave Clarke urges artists who have had gigs cancelled to return money back to promoters. via DJ Mag

Ongoing

• Resident Advisor have an excellent live blog with constant updates on how coronavirus is impacting the electronic music scene globally. Regular updates here