Queensland’s Schoolies Week Has Been Cancelled ‘Coz of Coronavirus

It has been deemed a "high-risk" event.

Earlier this month, we questioned whether Schoolies would go ahead in 2020.

After all, with the number of coronavirus cases continuing to rise in Victoria, and other cases still popping up around the country, the fate of Schoolies seemed unclear.

Of course, considering Year 12 students have already missed out on a number of events this year due to COVID-19, we were hopeful that it would go ahead. 

But sadly, it has now been confirmed that Queensland's Schoolies week has been cancelled after being deemed too "high-risk" to take place.

As reported by 9News, the decision comes as the state recorded three new community-acquired coronavirus cases overnight, all of whom are linked to a growing cluster at the Queensland Corrections Services Academy in Wacol.

On top of Schoolies week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said all official events, including concerts and beach parties, will no longer be allowed to happen.

"This is a mass event, it poses high risk, high risk to people that attend, all of the young people but also the people that they come in contact with and of course their families and their friends," she said.

According to the ABC, Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young had also decided that Schoolies week was too risky from a COVID-19 perspective.

Queensland Schoolies week was set to take place in locations including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Airlie Beach.

Schools and accommodation providers will be issued with formal, written notification that official Schoolies Week activities have been called off.

However, accommodation will still be available during the Schoolies period, but gatherings in residences including holiday units will be limited to no more than 10 people state-wide from 21 November to 11 December.

While no specific information regarding Queensland's new restrictions has been listed on the official Schoolies website, it says that if government restrictions prevent you from checking into your accommodation, you'll receive a full refund of monies paid over and above the non-refundable deposit (excluding existing amendment fees and credit charges if applicable). 

Otherwise, you can receive a credit voucher for the non-refundable deposit, or celebrate Schoolies on new dates, which will be confirmed closer to the time and will take place in early 2021 and no later than 28 February 2021. 

Although, the Queensland government has not confirmed whether Schoolies week will be rescheduled. 

At this stage, there has been no word as to whether the official Schoolies week events in other states have also been cancelled. 

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