During this period, Manning River Times will work to provide all the necessary information and notices in one place.

Over the coming weeks, this story will be updated with brief stories and event cancellations from across the Manning and Great Lakes areas in relation to coronavirus.

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus.

This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible.

If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.

There is also a dedicated coronavirus tab across all Australian Community Media platforms.

These articles can be accessed for free.

Years three, five, seven and nine students across the Mid Coast won't sit NAPLAN tests this year.

The annual tests have been cancelled due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision will help teachers focus on the well-being of students and continue to provide education.

The tests were to be held in May.

The ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has caused widespread postponements and cancellations for sporting competitions across the Mid Coast.

To read more, click here.

The Taree and District Eisteddfod Society has cancelled the 2020 eisteddfod in response to the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic.

The six week competition that involves vocal, piano, dance, speech and drama, instrumental and school choir sections was due to start at the Manning Entertainment Centre in late April.

To read more, click here.

THE first COVID-19 case in Port Macquarie has been confirmed forcing a local high school into shut down.

St Columba Anglican School (SCAS) principal Terry Muldoon issued a statement to staff and families on March 19 confirming that a member of the school community had tested positive to the virus.

To read more, click here.

Manning Entertainment Centre will continue to run shows with caution.

The schedule performance of The Cat in the Hat was cancelled after the cast faced quarantine issues in New Zealand.

Taree Rescue Squad's major fundraiser for 2020 has been cancelled.

It was decided the popular Weekend on Wheels event, scheduled for May, would be cancelled following the squad's monthly management meeting on Tuesday, March 17.

With uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and advice from the federal government to avoid mass gatherings of 500 people or more, the squad insisted the event should be cancelled in the interest of public safety.

In a statement on Facebook, the squad said it will continue to provide support for the Manning community.

"The safety of our members and the community that we support is paramount and this is why we have arrived at the decision to not proceed with any more planning for the event and ultimately cancel it.

"The squad will continue its fundraising efforts within the area and we can absolutely assure the public of the Manning Valley that we will continue to provide 24/7 rescue services to the community."

Taree Central Shopping Centre will take proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of customers, retailers, team members and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to its standard practices, the centre has introduced precautionary measures.

There will be increased cleaning schedules of high contact surface points such as amenities, food courts, handles and rails.

Hand sanitisers will be located in places such as entrances and exits.

The centre will also communicate and encourage the practice of good hygiene and preventative measures.

Dance group weekend for the Taree and District Eisteddfod has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was scheduled to take place on May 1 and 2, with school groups to follow on May 19.

Organisers hope it will go ahead in August.

To read more click here.

A World Water Day event, set to take place at Wingham on Sunday, March 22, has been cancelled.

Three non-conventional farmers from the Mid Coast were going to be the keynote speakers at the event.

Manning Valley Concert Band's upcoming concert has been postponed.

The concert was set to take place on Sunday, April 19 at Taree's St John's Anglican Church.

If needed, people can get refunds at Bass'n'Blues in Taree.

The Quota International of Forster-Tuncurry "Enjoy Life" Expo planned for this Saturday, March 21, at Tuncurry Memorial Hall has been cancelled due to official advice regarding COVID-19 precautions.

Taree RSL Sub-branch will be notifying those involved in the Anzac Day ceremonies across Taree that the event has been cancelled in the wake of coronavirus.

Taree sub-branch secretary Ted Hill said in view of this correspondence Taree RSL sub-branch had followed this advice and "we are cancelling the Anzac Day ceremonies in Taree."

Wingham Show Society president, Elaine Turner has confirmed the 2020 show has been cancelled.

Elaine admits the decision wasn't taken lightly and the Wingham Show Society committee consulted with the Agricultural Show Societies Council and Member for Lyne, David Gillespie's office before making the final decision on Saturday.

"The big big thing is the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone involved," Elaine said.

Two residents from the Mid North Coast have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a holiday overseas.

The information has been confirmed by the North Coast Public Health Unit.

The unit's acting director, Jane Jelfs, said the couple were aged in their 60s and were in self-isolation in Sydney.

She said they posed no risk to Mid North Coast residents.

To read more click here.

A meeting to discuss the proposed construction of a manufactured housing estate (MHE) at Tallwoods has been cancelled.

The meeting, organised by the Tallwoods Action Group and Hallidays Point Community Liaison and Progress Association, was scheduled to be held this evening, March 17 at the Black Head Surf Club.

Organisers of the Under the Southern Stars "rock carnival" have postponed the tour due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

The tour, featuring Live, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots, was to kick off on Friday, April 3 at Tuncurry. It will now be held in early 2021.

To read more, click here.

More people aged from 30 to 40 years in NSW are testing positive to coronavirus than any other age group, new data reveals.

When these statistics were released the number of people with COVID-19 in NSW has jumped to 171, with more females (88) than males (83) contracting the virus.

Sunanda Creagh of The Conversation, which publishes stories written by academics and researchers, sat down with two of Australia's leading virus and vaccine experts to find out the answers to the public's most burning questions.

Dr Lisa Sedger and Professor Michael Wallach - both from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney - shed light on everything from 'Can you get it twice?' to 'How long after you've recovered can you go back to your normal life?' and 'How far off is a vaccine?'

To read an edited transcript of the discussion, click here.

In a short time, COVID-19 has changed our every day lives.

The respiratory illness has spread rapidly around the world and brought us into a period of uncertainty.

But how do you know if you have COVID-19?

To read more click here.