Additional amateur radio events have been cancelled or postponed as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) fears.

The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) has announced the cancellation of several amateur radio events planned for March, in the wake of a government policy requesting that events be cancelled, postponed, or reduced in size for the next 2 weeks, saying “events that attract large numbers of people have a large risk of infection.” JARL subsequently requested that all events scheduled in that time frame be cancelled or postponed. Affected events include the West Nippon Ham Fair on March 8, the Chugoku Regional Amateur Radio Direction Finding Competition on 15th March 2020 and the Kagawa Ham Festival on 22nd March 2020.

West Nippon Ham Fair organizers said they considered postponing the event for 6 months, but concluded there was no certainty that the coronavirus situation would be resolved by then.

Members of the Nara DX Association Japan have postponed the planned V6J IOTA DXpedition to Murilo Island in the Hall Islands at least until next year or later. “We hope the propagation will be better then,” the group said. “We hope the spreading of coronaviruses will be stopped right away.”

In England, the Wythall Radio Club decided this week to cancel its 15 March 2020 hamfest. “As a responsible club, we have taken this step to minimize any risks to the expected 400+ visitors and traders from the COVID-19 virus, due to the uncertainties regarding the spread of the virus,” the club said.