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Dozens of public events have been cancelled in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Malta.

The University of Malta announced that all its events, conferences and meetings would not take place and visiting lecturers due to arrive before the end of April have been told to cancel their travel plans.

It said this was "due to latest developments surrounding the coronavirus".

Several feasts have been cancelled, a children's cinema day postponed and exhibitions stopped. 

A Times of Malta book sale on March 13-15 and food and beer festival in Bisazza Street in Sliema  on March 20-21 have been postponed.

The musical Sister Act, which was due to have its opening night in Gozo next week has also been postponed and those who bought tickets are to be contacted about new dates. 

The Manoel Theatre has cancelled all performances this month. 

Response to event restrictions

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela banned outdoor events with more than 2,000 people and indoor events of 700 people but organisers are canceling events even if they are likely to attract smaller numbers.

Cartoonist Seb Tanti Burlò, who postponed his upcoming show 'Other Places' which was set to open next week, said people need to take responsibility for containing the virus. 

"We are collectively and personally responsible to prevent and limit the spreading of this virus in any way possible," he said. "We must start by listening to our doctors and adhering to their advice." 

A number of other exhibitions have taken similar measures. 

Here is a list of events that have been cancelled:

• The concert in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation that was scheduled for March 21 has been postponed until further notice. St Paul Metropolitan Orchestra promised to honour all bookings received for the Premiere: Lullaby for Birkenau - A mass for Peace.
  
  
• Barocco Foundation has postponed the piano concert which was meant to be held at St. Augustine Monastery, Valletta on March 20.
  
  
• An exhibition by Tonio Mallia that was due to be held at Gallery 23 in Balzan between March 19 and April 15 has been postponed.
  
  
• The MRO Tech Expo, meant to be held on March 27-29 has also been postponed to another date. 
   
• Aestimtio, a collective exhibition featuring the works from Adele Borg, Marika Borg, Tessie Borg, Maria Briffa Bell, Guzeppi Theuma and Madeleine Vella Satariano, held at the Żabbar Sanctuary Museum, has also be postponed after being due to open in late March.
  
  
• The six-artist exhibition #24 as well as Mario Agius's wood sculpture exhibition Il-Ħajja have also been postponed to a later date.
  
  
• An exhibition of Maltese crucifixes due to open on Wednesday evening at the Italian Cultural Institute has been postponed.
  
  
• Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association's seminar on epilepsy which was scheduled for March 14 at the Dolmen Hotel was being postponed.
  
  
• Research Seminar Ageing, religiosity and spirituality in Malta: Implications for social and health care policy scheduled for Wednesday at the Faculty of Theology has been cancelled.

• The Aquinas Lecture organised by the Faculty of Theology, scheduled for March 18 March at the Wignacourt Museum, Rabat, has also been cancelled.

• The Mahler's Sixth concert scheduled for Saturday at the Mediterranean Conference Centre has also been cancelled.
  
  
• The musical Sister Act, which was due to run between March 19 to March 22  at the Astra Theatre in Gozo has also be postponed.
  
  
• The external celebrations for the feast of St Joseph in Rabat due next week have been cancelled
  
  
• Senglea Parish announced that the annual pilgrimage of Christ the Redeemer would be postponed from March 20 to June 21.
  
  
• The Gatsby, scheduled for March 14, has been postponed for April 18 at Gianpula.
   
• St Julian's local council has also cancelled St Patrick's Day celebrations.
  
  
• Times Events Quiz Night, scheduled for March 13 at The Plaza shopping mall has been postponed.
  
  
• Times of Malta book sale due between March 13-15 at Mrieħel has been postponed.
  
  
• Children's cinema day, which was scheduled to take place at all local cinemas this Saturday has also been postponed.
  
  
• An antiques fair at the Naxxar oratory has been postponed. 
  
  
• The Bisazza Street Food & Beer Fest powered by Times Events due on March 20-21 has been postponed.

• A Malta-Israel rugby international match has been postponed.
  
  
• MFCC events: 
  A carer's day scheduled for March 10 has been postponed;
  A karate open championship scheduled for March 21 has been cancelled;
  A Malta Robotics Olympiad scheduled for March 29 has been postponed;
  A BPW international conference on April 3-4 has been postponed;
  A Red Electric concert on April 4 has been postponed;
  A Baby&Me event on April 19 has been cancelled;
  An AGRIMalta event scheduled for April 24-26 has been postponed.
  
  
• An Architecture Alive talk by Daniel Libeskind scheduled for March 26 has been called off and will be held later in the year if possible.
  
  
• Lejl Imkebbes - festival of lights at the Cittadella in Gozo, scheduled for March 28, has been postponed to a later date.
   
• A heritage tour of Żejtun organised by the Planning Authority for this coming Sunday has been cancelled.
   
• A national epilepsy conference due to be held on March 14 has been postponed.
  
  
• Dance party Swing into Spring, organised by Cheers Events and due to be held on March 14, has been cancelled.  
  
  
• A powerlifting competition planned for March 14 has been postponed.
  
  
• The Manoel Theatre has cancelled all performances until the end of this month. 
  
  
• A scale models exhibition due to be held between March 14 and 22 at the Catholic Action has been postponed.
  
  
• A CineXjenza discussion about the human brain scheduled for March 17 has been cancelled. 
  
  
• Bingo nights at the Sliema band club on Wednesdays and Sundays have been called off until further notice. 
  
  
• A party at Sky Club on March 14 has been postponed until further notice.