Published
Thu, Mar 5, 2020, 17:10
- The latest measures ban all public and private events until at least April 3rd.
Italy has banned all shows and events nationwide as the country ramps up its response to the coronavirus, AKA COVID-19, outbreak.
The official orders, which have also affected schools, universities and sporting events, state that people must remain at least one metre apart from one another. This rules out club nights and larger musical events. The ban will remain until April 3rd at the earliest.
"We're running for the hills because a month and a half is a lot of events," Fabio Alampi, who runs Milan party Take It Easy, told Resident Advisor. "We've dropped 19 events to be precise. We're trying to move some of them to the summer but even in that case, there aren't that many facilities ready. The scariest thing is the fact that no one guarantees that on April 3rd the situation will be back to normal. It may have gotten worse and the security measures tightened further."
He continues: "In short, the scene I think, especially on the big projects, is completely stopped. We are not able to make forecasts or announcements for the summer. Until April 3rd everything is TBC. The winter season is definitely over. I don't think we'll see anything in the clubs between now and May. In fact, I doubt it very much."
Giancarlo Battafarano, owner and founder of Goa Club in Rome, fears the economic cost of the ban. "We ask the state to understand our position and work on measures to assure we can keep the salaries of the many people who are behind the entertainment business: staff, security, promoters, agencies, artists, hotels, drivers, press offices, hostesses, graphic designers, secretaries, etc."
Italy's death toll, 107 at the time of writing, is currently the highest in Europe. Other countries have also taken precautions. Earlier today, Tomorrowland was forced to cancel its winter edition by the French government, while Ultra Music Festival in Miami also scrapped this year's edition yesterday.
These recent incidents follow a spate of venue closures and cancellations across Asia, affecting the scene in Chengdu, Hong Kong, Singapore and further afield.
Find the latest COVID-19 statistics on this interactive map created by Johns Hopkins University.
Carolaina Losa contributed to this report.