Here are some notes about how the IARU is dealing, as of March 19, with the restrictions now in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The ITU has cancelled some meetings, postponed others, and converted still others into E‑meetings with no in-person dimension. ITU Headquarters in Geneva is not accessible to visitors until April 17 “at the earliest.” IARU representatives are adjusting their plans accordingly.
The largest amateur radio gathering in Europe, Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen, Germany, is still scheduled for June 26 – 28 and plans are going forward for a two-part IARU stand, including a dedicated one for youth. Whether the event will take place is unknown at this time.
The IARU Region 1 Executive Committee was scheduled to meet April 26 – 28. Instead, a series of virtual meetings will be held.
IARU Region 2 was planning workshops on Emergency Communications and Satellite Communications in Trinidad & Tobago, May 30 – 31, but has announced that the workshops will be held online instead. Interest and registrations have surged since the announcement. These workshops will be held in English but preparations are underway for workshops in Spanish to be held later.
IARU Region 3 has cancelled its first Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) Camp that had been planned for Rayong, Thailand, in early October.
Reminder: World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, is just a few weeks away! Help us celebrate amateur radio’s contributions to society, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the IARU, and that amateur radio is the best way to practice social distancing!
IARU International Secretariat
Also available in Español (Spanish).