Post by Charlie Freeman on Feb 23, 2020 18:28:28 GMT
This appears to be spreading a lot quicker now in Europe, especially France, Italy and Germany. Just hoping it gets contained so it does not ruin all the plans that so many of us have put in place for the ECM. Fingers Crossed! Charlie
I'll drink to that Charlie. Having planned a post-ECM tour of the Dolomites for our little group, I was concerned by today's news regarding the lockdown in parts of northern Italy. Having said that, my thoughts and best wishes go to all those currently caught up in high risk areas.
Post by Charlie Freeman on Feb 24, 2020 9:20:27 GMT
It is certainly going to get a lot worse before it gets better. As our ongoing tour after the ECM goes to Venice and Garda we are getting quite nervous! Charlie
I agree we don’t want to start getting over excited, it’s just a shame that worldwide social media has over inflated a flu outbreak... fingers crossed all the plans go ahead 🤞🤞
Post by Charlie Freeman on Mar 9, 2020 11:47:59 GMT
News today from UK Government has certainly put our trip to Venice and Lake Garda after the ECM in serious jeopardy. At least we may be able to get some money back as they have stated no travel to Italy unless essential. I am not a pessimist but this virus will not be clear before June. Let's trust that Austria remains open. I accept comments that the Media has a lot to answer for as they have certainly been trying their best to scare us! However, as I find myself in the age bracket that are very vulnerable to the serious side of the virus it would be stupid of me to put myself in a situation where I have a 99% chance of getting the virus.
Post by Graham Heatrick on Mar 9, 2020 13:39:01 GMT
Makes me mad this! The overreaction is the problem in my opinion. National governments closing down parts of the country (Italy) and closing off events to the public (F1, football, etc), plus hotels going into what is often failed quarantine when someone tests positive is putting so many fantastic events at risk. People are rightly becoming more concerned in my view about the control measures than the virus itself! Eg if you’re locked down in a hotel in ‘quarantine’ for two weeks when you’re expected back at work and your employer won’t pay you as you are not actually sick. Starting to make people think a bit more about this as yes, the virus is ‘the flu’ but it feels like the control measures are in place to manage the ‘black death’ 🙄 I hope the ECM is unaffected but somehow I think that’s looking unlikely ☹️
Post by Roel de Vringer on Mar 9, 2020 16:40:57 GMT
Reaction from the ECM organization:
To all ECM participants:
At this moment there is NO indication that the region or our hotel is affected in any way by this 'hype' of the Corona ( influenza...) virus.
That does not mean ofcourse, that in the near future things might change, and if they do, it probably will present a very large problem and headache for us as organizers, but also for the ECC members that are going to participate at the 2020 ECM.
Rest assured that we are monitoring the situation in Bad K. and Thomas is actually travelling there ( without ANY restrictions by the way ) on the 25th to talk to several people involved. He will come back with more news i expect.
Untill that moment i would like to ask all of our members not to overreact to this hype and leave that to the social media or governments...
FYI: In China they are more people killed EVERY day in traffic, than by this Coronavirus...
Post by Christian Deetz on Mar 9, 2020 18:02:31 GMT
I think they will close all streets in China because of the traffic !? I think until June its cleared. Either the Virus is fighted or we are all at home under carantine. Dont worry, be happy ! Christian
Post by Roel de Vringer on Mar 10, 2020 14:37:45 GMT
@ Graham: Sorry for the confusion, but I wasn't referring to our own ECC members, but to the Governments and these stupid people on Social Media!
Ofcourse our members can express their worries on the Forum, but I would surely hope that this Forum will not become another place where we are bombarded with all sorts of 'news' about this Corona.
@ Graham: Sorry for the confusion, but I wasn't referring to our own ECC members, but to the Governments and these stupid people on Social Media!
Ofcourse our members can express their worries on the Forum, but I would surely hope that this Forum will not become another place where we are bombarded with all sorts of 'news' about this Corona.
Ah yes, agreed Roel. Apologies for misreading your note.
Post by Roel de Vringer on Mar 15, 2020 15:53:40 GMT
UPDATE: NEWS and INFO from the ECM 2020 front...15-03-2020
To all our ECM participants:
As promised Tom & I are constantly monitoring the situation in Austria, and in particular the province of Carinthia / Kärnten.
The situation today, 15th March.
3 Austrian villages, of which 1 (Heiligenblut) in Kärnten, are totally locked to prevent spreading of the virus.
In Kärnten province there are now 6 (yes, only six...) confirmed cases of infection, of which 1 woman in Spittal an der Drau is the closest to Bad Kleinkirchheim, but still half an hour drive away.... Besides, she is in quarantine in hospital. In Bad Kleinkirchheim (BKK) itself, or the immediate surroundings, there are NO infections reported.
The hotel Kirchheimerhof has closed for the season after the winter is over, AS THEY ALWAYS DO per mid MARCH, but this year it's closed just 1 week earlier than initially planned. Same for other hotels in the area. That means there are NO new guests coming to BKK and the hotel(s) so that prevents the IMPORT of the virus. A GOOD thing!
They will open again as planned on May 20th and that is 5 weeks before the ECM starts. The expectation is that by this time the whole virus-affair has 'blown over' and life can go on as normal. Another GOOD thing.
Now for the practical side of things:
A. Registrations: We did NOT have any cancellations (so far..) because of the Corona virus, which indicates that our ECM partipants are not panicking like some other people do... AND THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC! Not at all.
B. Cancellations: If the situation in BKK is unfortunatly not back to normal by the time the hotel opens again on May 20th, and the expectation is that it will not be normal by the time we have the ECM planned, so let's say, per 15th of June, there is always the possibility to CANCEL your hotelbooking. If you do this before May 22nd, you will get a 100% refund of your hotel-deposit.
From today we have 63 days to the cancellation deadline and 98 days before the ECM starts. Now, if we look at events in China and the far east where all this Corona-trouble started, we can see that in 2 months, or 60 days, a lot has happened and things are moving towards normal again, with many more recoveries than new infections... So we anticipate that overhere all will be well again mid-May.
Short recap: BEFORE May 22nd. there is absolutely no need to cancel your ECM booking. We are confident that the ECM can be held on the dates that we planned and would very much like to see you all join us in BKK.
C. Alternatives: To be on the safe side and because a good organizer always must have a Plan B., we are investigating further options if - God forbid - the situation is NOT clear by mid-May and we need to go to plan B. But untill that time we continue to go-ahead with the ECM as planned.
That's it from us, stay safe and let's all meet in BKK in June!!