Photographs of the skywriting were widely
shared online but it was unclear who was responsible for them.
Formula One organizers have already postponed the Chinese Grand
Prix which was scheduled in April, while Bahrain authorities on
Sunday said fans would be barred from the second round of the
season on March 22.
Australian Grand Prix authorities on Monday were adamant that
Albert Park would welcome thousands of motor sport fans from
Thursday when practice sessions and qualifying commence for
lower-profile touring car series.
Australian health authorities are battling to contain community
spread of the coronavirus, with infections mounting day by day
and several schools forced to close in Melbourne and Sydney.
Australia had recorded 112 cases of the coronavirus as of 11
a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Wednesday, up from 100 the
previous day, the health department said. Three people have died
from the disease in the country.
The new coronavirus has infected more than 116,000 people and
killed more than 4,000 around the world since it surfaced in
China late last year.
More than 300,000 fans attended race week at Albert Park last
year, according to organizers' estimates.
With a prominent art festival in Australia's southern Tasmania
state and other local events canceled in recent days, Australian
media pundits have queried the safety of thousands of fans
flocking to Albert Park.
"In the real world, the Indian Wells tennis tournament in the US
has been canceled, the Socceroos World Cup qualifiers have been
postponed, major club matches in Italy are being played behind
closed doors, and the World Cup skiing finals in Cortina
d’Ampezzo have been scratched altogether," Greg Baum wrote in
Melbourne daily The Age on Tuesday.
"In the Melbourne Grand Prix world, it’s see you in the
champagne tent."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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