Fears the popular Sydney Easter Show could be CANCELLED due to coronavirus fears

The Sydney Royal Easter show could be cancelled to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Sick Australians have been urged to avoid large crowds and the two-week agricultural fair attracts almost one million visitors.

A Royal Agricultural Society spokeswoman said that they were handling the coronavirus outbreak by ‘working closely with NSW Health and other relevant authorities to remain prepared’.

The spokesperson refused to rule out cancelling the Easter Show – but said current plans were for it to go ahead.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Easter Show ‘should go ahead however we are asking people to self-exclude if they are in high risk categories’.

‘If you do attend those mass gatherings, we ask you to be aware of space, hygiene and your own activity to make sure you don’t contract or infect someone else,’ Ms Berejiklian said on Thursday morning. 

The Premier also said that schools, universities and events could potentially be shut down in the future. 

‘There’s no need to panic, to massively change what you’re doing. But it’s not business as usual,’ Ms Berejiklian said.   

The number of coronavirus cases in NSW jumped from 65 to 77 overnight. 

Four of the new 12 cases were not people who had recently travelled overseas, leaving questions about how they became infected.    

Australia now has more than 140 confirmed cases and the World Health Organisation has warned more infections and deaths are inevitable without urgent, aggressive action. 

NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant has told anyone who is sick – regardless of recent overseas travel – to stay at home and away from any large gatherings.

The agricultural fair (pictured) attracts almost one million visitors in the space of two weeks

‘The best thing you can do is stay at home if you’re unwell. Don’t push through, don’t go to workplaces, don’t go and visit loved ones in aged care facilities, don’t go and visit loved ones in hospital, and don’t go to public events where you’re going to be cheek and jowl,’ she said. 

NSW Health says COVID-19 clinics will be opened in all local health districts to diagnose patients with symptoms.

The Royal North Shore, Royal Prince Alfred, John Hunter and Nepean hospitals will soon have the capacity to test for COVID-19 infections, the department says.

Currently only Prince of Wales, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals are able to test for the virus.

NSW authorities have also been investigating a coronavirus cluster in Sydney’s northwest centred on Ryde Hospital and the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care home.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged sick Australians to avoid large crowds (file image)