Dave,
I can only speak for Bonaire since that's the island I've been following
the Covid-19 news for. The latest information//I have is that they have
closed the air bubble with both Aruba (on August 6th) and Curacao
(starting September 6th.) So you can't even travel between the ABC
islands at all. That would leave the only way to get to Bonaire is on
the daily KLM flight from Amsterdam. Right now only citizens from the
Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and France can travel to the
island. Even if you live in those counties you have to get a COVID-19
test a maximum 72 hours before your arrival, sign a health declaration
and have been in those countries at least 14 days prior to your trip. I
didn't see anything in their latest guidelines about having to
quarantine when you arrive in Bonaire. I think some of the other
Caribbean islands that are open to international travelers have a
similar protocol.
The two big contest stations on the island are both owned by Americans
and they can't even travel to the island to do maintenance. I'm sure if
you live in one of those low risk EU countries that K2NG would love to
rent the station to you. He really needs someone to go there to check
some things out for him. Also I believe CQWW DX SSB is open if someone
wanted to operate the contest remotely via BeLoud.Us. The good thing is
there is an active contester that resides on the island. Steve, PJ4DX,
operates just about every DX SSB contest. PJ4KY, PJ4NX and newcomer
PJ4RF are also active on SSB.
Jeff
//
On 9/4/2020 11:12 AM, David Siddall wrote:
What Jeff says is true for U.S. residents, but not for those in the other
countries where risk of transmission is low under international
medically-based standards. Because they have achieved low risk levels,
generally people in those countries can go back to work and school, and
travel if they wish, while exercising precautions. This was driven home to
me just now when, after viewing Jeff's email, I saw a picture of my friend
Jan, OZ1ADL (contest station OZ5E), enjoying a beer with some friends in
Germany yesterday. Many EU borders re-opened back in July, subject to
periodic review of each country's medically-based risk level.
It just might be an opportune year for some European or Asian contesters to
visit the Caribbean for CQWW. Every island is different. I checked
contester-favorite Curacao, for example, and on July 1 flights resumed to
Europe and the island is open to visitors from many low-risk countries -
including Canada, many EU, and some Asian - subject to precautions (
https://www.curacao.com/en/questions/health-and-vaccinations/response-to-novel-coronavirus-covid-19).
Bonaire is more restrictive, but generally open for visitors from select
countries deemed low risk and flights to and from Europe also resumed on
July 1.
While some operators are forced out of on-site action because of the
continued high risk levels in the U.S., maybe contesters from
other countries will travel and we'll work the multipliers!
73, Dave K3ZJ
From KU8EThis Fall contest season is going to be very different from what
we've
experienced
in the past. Many of those Caribbean island multipliers that we take take
for granted will probably not be on the air. In my case I've been traveling
to the Dutch Caribbean to operate DX contests since about 2000. That streak
will be coming to an end for me this year since American citizens can't
travel to Bonaire because of COVID-19. Luckily the PJ4G/PJ4NG station is
setup to be operated remotely using BeLoud.Us. K4BAI has used it remotely a
few times this year and he has plans to do it again in CQWW DX CW.
Unfortunately for me it's not worth the expensive cost to do a M/S remotely
with just one radio. No way you could be competitive in a multi-op category
operating that way with no multiplier station. So John will be on the air
remotely doing a single band and I will be stuck at home operating my small
station.
I was hoping to go to Bonaire at least one time this year to get some
points
for WRTC so I could at least get into the top ten in my qualifying region
in case someone would've been interested in picking me as a teammate.
You're allowed two entries outside your qualifying region. I have two
outside my qualifying region so far and I have two left. Wonder if there
might be anyone out there that might need another operator for a
competitive effort for either CQWW DX SSB or CQWW DX CW ? I would imagine
it would have to be a remote operation? If you do I'm available.
BTW I came across this interesting article online if you do want to still
go to the islands . It might be possible for some of the islands.
https://www.universalweather.com/blog/caribbean-coronavirus-covid-19-impact-on-business-aviation/?fbclid=IwAR2tx0FKILQoVDZ84wJORKQDYBlSmt0QNDlDOZjVwvpSVyFFQblvSJJxwt8
I guess some of the islands are open to Americans but it seems like a big
hassle to do what you need to do to visit.
73, Jeff KU8E
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