BACKGROUND TO THE HARLEY & SNOW CANCELLATION DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS
What's going on in South Tyrol? The situation there seems to be particularly unusual: the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has issued a travel warning for South Tyrol today.
The Robert Koch Institute reports South Tyrol as a risk area for corona infections (as of 06.06.2020 14:45).
BACKGROUND TO THE REPORT
The decision to report the case was apparently taken by the Baden-Württemberg Health Minister Manfred Lucha, who personally contacted the German Health Minister Jens Spahn and made the case for it. Around 40% of those infected so far in Baden-Württemberg had previously been on vacation in the region of South Tyrol.
THE ANSWER FROM SOUTH TYROL
Meanwhile, the South Tyrolean government is criticizing the German travel warning due to the Coronavirus. The head of government of South Tyrol, Arno Kompatscher, announced in the South Tyrol News that so far only two people have tested positive for the corona virus and around 200 people are in domestic quarantine. If we now take a look at NRW, we have to ask ourselves when Mr. Laschet will contact Mr. Spahn to have NRW declared a risk area. Apparently no concerns about the conditions in NRW have yet been reported to our health minister Mr. Spahn from Baden Württemberg. Over 300 cases are known in North Rhine-Westphalia (as of 06.06.2020). The German Football League has not yet been affected by a cancellation.
THE EU SHOWS NO UNITY ON THE CORONA VIRUS
Now we can actually wait to see when the South Tyroleans send out their warning message for Germany, because there are probably more infected people here than there. Basically, anyone can now warn anyone, it actually shows very well that our authorities in particular are once again totally overwhelmed. In this case, the EU take the helm, but not much comes from there. When it comes to emissions regulations and harassing motorcyclists, it works better.
A hard blow for the Harley and Snow organizer and the guests and participants.
So far, no one can expect compensation, most hotels want the full price in the event of a cancellation, depending on where you have booked, it can be complicated. I can only recommend everyone to check the Harleysite book among the events via Booking com and make sure to book accommodation where free cancellation is possible, there can always be something.
STATEMENT FROM HARLEY & SNOW ORGANIZER DANIEL GEPPERT ON FACEBOOK
Those responsible do not want to burn their fingers
The problem in Bolzano is that no one in charge of the authorities wants to burn their fingers, the conditions were always extended in advance and on Thursday evening the announcement came that the event had to be canceled. The civil defense has now forbidden the event to take place. With such strong warnings from Germany, you can perhaps even understand the authorities in South Tyrol, but I'm not sure whether it's really in the interests of the South Tyrolean government to send such a signal to the world. It is clear that the virus is extremely contagious, but from that point of view, you can catch it anywhere.
A year of preparation for the cat
Harley & Snow is mainly an open air event, it is very well known and participants come from all over Europe. But everyone has some personal responsibility, no one has to take part, if you look at the comparison that the Motorcycle show Dortmund, or Bundesliga matches take place and the decisive hysteria tends to come from Germany, you have to wonder why the civil defense authorities in South Tyrol make such a decision for an event that is relatively small in comparison.
What can we do?
The organizer now needs support from the Harley scene, there will soon be a support T-shirt when and where you can order it, you will find out later here, or on the Harley & Snow Page. It would have been a great party this year, we can provide a little support so that we can at least look forward to a Harley and Snow 2021 can look forward to.
They deserve the support, they put so much heart and soul into this event that it would be a tragedy to let it go under.
