Cate Blanchett on Venice, virus and why lessons weren't learned

Director of the Venice Film festival, Alberto Barbera (left) and Jury President of the 77th Venice Film festival, Australian-US actress Cate Blanchett, both wearing a face mask, touch elbow as they arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film 'Lacci' on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival, on Sept 2. Photo: AFP

Australian actress Cate Blanchett said on Wednesday (Sept 2) she is baffled that other countries didn’t learn from Italy’s pain to be better prepared to fight the coronavirus outbreak when it spread.

Blanchett, who is heading the jury at the virus-restricted Venice Film Festival, arrived on the Venice Lido wearing a surgical mask and skipped the typical water taxi photo op that stars have long used.