The Melville Comedy Club closes its doors amid coronavirus pandemic

The Melville Comedy Club announced on Sunday that it would close its doors heeding the World Health Organisation's advice to limit all public gatherings.

"In support of the World Health Organisation's efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus Disease), the Melville Comedy Club will close its doors indefinitely to help slow down the spread within individual communities.

"By implementing social distancing, we can restrict possible outbreaks to keep it manageable in our communities," they added in a statement posted on Instagram, echoing the Centres for Disease Control. The CDC explains that the spread of the virus occurs when people are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

SEE THE MELVILLE COMEDY CLUB'S FULL POST HERE:

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In support of the World Health Organisation’s efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus Disease), the Melville Comedy Club will close its doors indefinitely to help slow down the spread within individual communities. By implementing Social Distancing, we can restrict possible outbreaks to keep it manageable in our communities. Please keep an eye on our social media platforms for updates as to when the shows will resume. Stay happy and stay healthy!

A post shared by The Melville Comedy Club (@themelvillecc) on Mar 15, 2020 at 3:28am PDT

Several shows and festivals have issued similar statements, both locally and globally. Coachella has been postponed, so too has the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

AfrikaBurn and the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival have released statements cancelling both festivals.