The Wiggles share 'heartbreaking' news amid coronavirus pandemic

The Wiggles have shared heartbreaking news amid the coronavirus pandemic with the children's entertainers forced to lay-off their touring staff after having to cancel their upcoming tour.

Speaking with Perth Now, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field revealed, "We've had to stand down our beautiful cast."

"A lot of our dancers, the lady that goes around and sells the merchandise, truck drivers, sound crew — it's heartbreaking," he continued.

"We love playing music for people. We can do it online but it's not the same."

The group have been able to record new music while in isolation, even releasing a song called 'Social Distancing'.

The song teaches kids the reason they might be unable to see their grandparents and friends as well as the importance of hand washing.

The group, however, has plans to hold Facebook Live concerts as a way to keep kids entertained at home.

Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie told the publication, "It’s been really hard; the people who work with us are like family."

"We’re lucky we can make music and film things, but everyone’s experiencing this all over the world; there is no other option at this time. Hopefully it doesn’t last too long and people get through it."

The arts industry in Australia was likely the first to be hit by the pandemic due to the large crowds of people that have to work in such close proximity.

Many of those people have been unable to work since February with large film productions including Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings being forced to shut down filming in Sydney.

With many of these people working in the arts being short-term contract workers, they are finding themselves ineligible for job keeper and jobseeker payments.

According to The Guardian, it's estimated that 1.1 million casuals will miss out on the payments.

Lachlan also gave Perth Now an update on former Wiggle Greg Page's health after the performer suffered a heart attack while on stage with the original group.

"He's good," he said, adding, "He's had a game of cricket recently." Anthony said, "Seeing Greg like that put me into a spin."

“It was horrible but the gig itself was fantastic ... I don’t want to put any pressure on Greg but he’s getting so much better that hopefully we can do another gig next year. Maybe.

“We’ll have an ambulance on standby for all of us.”

Greg collapsed on stage and went into cardiac arrest during The Wiggles Bushfire Relief concert in January.

In an interview with 2GB's Ray Hadley, he revealed he didn't remember what happened to him.

“I don't know what happened. Obviously, I had a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“I thought I was fit and I guess that's part of this message — no matter how fit and strong you think you are, you may still be susceptible. So make sure you have the checks done.”

He went on to explain he had slightly increased his fitness routine to help prepare him for the “tough show”, and even went to the doctor six weeks before hand.

“I went to the doctor six weeks before the concert and got blood work done to test for cholesterol. [It was] a little high, but not enough for them to be concerned,” Greg said.

“So I went happily on my way and I wiggled my butt off that night and nearly didn't make it.”

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