Queen Elizabeth has asked that her 94th birthday not be celebrated in any special way amid the coronavirus pandemic
Britain's Queen Elizabeth will not celebrate her 94th birthday in any special way and has asked that there be no gun salutes to mark the occasion because it would not be appropriate while the country battles a deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Britain is at or near the peak of an outbreak in which more than 14,000 people have already died - the fifth highest national death toll of a pandemic linked to at least 150,000 deaths worldwide.Ceremonial gun salutes, in which blank rounds are fired from various location across London, are typically used by the royal family to mark special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays.
Earlier this month, the country's longest-serving monarch made an exceptional address to the nation, promising"Better days will return." Buckingham Palace last month said a parade to celebrate the Queen's official birthday, which is celebrated in June, would not go ahead in its traditional form in light of restrictions on social gatherings.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household. If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments.
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