South Australian pub issues FINES to patrons who talk about the coronavirus outbreak

A hotel who banned conversations about coronavirus – forcing people to donate $2 every time they mention the deadly outbreak – has raised $502

Marree Hotel, 598 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia, shared a picture of a donation tin near their tap beers in March and within three days it raised $100.

Now the tin has raised a total of $502 to be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. 

‘Anyone talking about coronavirus must put $2 in the tin for the Royal Flying Doctor Service,’ a sign on the tin says.

RFDS provides healthcare to people who live in isolated communities in Australia’s outback. 

Joe Calvert, the pub’s manager, told Daily Mail Australia the hotel intended to keep the tin out as long as coronavirus remained a topic of conversation – including when borders open back up. 

‘The peak of people dropping money into the tin happened the first week it was put out,’ Mr Calvert said.

‘It dropped when people were off the roads but it’s picking back up again.’

He said the business has only been able to do takeaway meals and drinks and host accommodation.

The business will reopen fully on June 5 and Mr Calvert encouraged people to visit once travel is opened up again.  

‘The main thing is to help Australians at this time and there is so much of the country to see,’ he said. 

‘We are looking forward to when things go back to normal. Lots of people have been stuck in the city and there is a lot to see in the outback.’ 

There is no date for when the state will open up its borders to visitors from around the country. 

In March Mr Calvert told Daily Mail Australia the tin was set up to give people a sanctuary amid the height of the pandemic.  

‘We thought we would give the local people a break from it all,’ he said.

‘They’re taking the ban in good spirits.’

Mr Calvert said with the news occasionally playing in the background at the pub people do slip up.

‘People can’t help themselves. Over the last three days we have raised more than $100,’ he said. 

Social media users were highly impressed with the pub’s move at the time.

‘Best bloody post I’ve seen on Facebook in the past few months,’ one person said.

Another said: ‘Yep, a good way to shut them down and take a good collection for RFDS.’

‘This is what I’m talking about! So over that word,’ another said. 

South Australia has not had a new case of coronavirus in two weeks – but have not gone as far as to declare themselves as free from the pandemic.

South Australia’s last remaining COVID-19 patient Paul Faraguna, 68, walked out of hospital on Thursday after contracting the virus on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

He had been in hospital for two months, according to the ABC.