SYDNEY & MELBOURNE: Armenian community centres and scout halls in Sydney and Melbourne have announced their temporary closures to ensure compliance with Australian Federal Government advice to stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The Armenian Cultural Centre in Willoughby NSW, the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre in Bonnyrigg NSW, the Ararat Community Centre in Ryde NSW, the Armenian Community Centre in Springvale VIC, as well as all Homenetmen Australia's scout halls have all confirmed their centres are forced shut until further notice.

Each day, Australia and its most Armenian-populated states of New South Wales and Victoria are announcing the forced closure of further categories of businesses and institutions.

Earlier this week, the community's largest everyday school, Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstaun College announced it is transitioning to online learning and advising students to stay home, while remaining open to cater for a minority of parents who are unable to find alternative care (see more here).

The Armenian National Committee of Australia also announced that their staff will be working from their homes for the foreseeable future, while the Armenian Apostolic Church is holding close-door services through to the end of Easter at least (see their announcement here).

The Facebook Page of Armenia Media is posting all notices of event and activity cancellations, postponements or other changes (see here).