English Speaking Bowling League - Covid Archive

previously... Tuesday, May 17th update: CONTINUING OUR (ATTENUATED) "2nd HALF"...

As we continue on our "2nd round"... coming to a position night in two weeks our quest to establish how to do a celebration banquet goes on. In checking for a venue such as our last one, Schutzhaus Zukunft (Schmelz), early June is anyway not available, and currently we see Saturday, Sept. 3rd, as our most likely date. How we coordinate it all remains to manage!

previously...
Tuesday, Apr. 26th update: CONTINUING OUR (ATTENUATED) "2nd HALF"

We've started in on our "2nd round"... randomly selected weekly schedules for the next 5 weeks and a position round at the end. Whether we do a banquet at the end (or save it for a larger team captaions meeting in August) to be determined...

Our schdeule linked to below has been updated to reflect our run so far and the remaining weeks to go.

previously...
Thursday, Apr. 14th update: HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Wishing everyone a sunny, long weekend, in the company of family and friends, and in contemplation of all our blessings while yearning for increased peace in our world.

We'll get started on our "2nd round" next week - details to come... - Don

previously...
Tuesday, Apr. 12th update: AGAIN....WEDNESDAY AT 19:30 - WEEK 19! and then...

Enough with the BYEs already!

Since we've all had a go at a BYE or two (or three) it's time to do away with them and carry on with an adjusted 16 team schedule as a focus for the remaining 7 or 8 weeks 'til we run out of time. (Our BYE teams have all indicated their reluctance to return.) After our final round of round 1 - all having played each of the other teams - we then need a format for a sort of 2nd round... TO BE DETERMINED! (Possibilities include 2 top/bottom divisions of 8 teams playing each of the other 7 in 7 weeks, or perhaps 6 weeks of randomly scheduled opponents and a final week position night. Suggestions welcome!) Whatever gets decided the schedule will be reworked to avoid any confusions!

previously...
Sunday, Apr. 3rd update: CONTINUING....WEDNESDAY AT 19:30 - WEEK 18!

previously...
Sunday, Mar. 27th update: WE START AGAIN! WEDNESDAY AT 19:30 - WEEK 17!

Having asked around, we find most everyone ready to play again. So, despite the still elevated numbers in the daily news reports, we are cautiously optimistic that we can start in again. See you Wednesday!

As ever, stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO esblvie@yahoo.com.

previously...
Monday, Mar. 21st update: WE'LL CONTINE HOLDING OFF!... - NO BOWLING THIS WEEK, MARCH 23rd!

The high numbers of positives coming in continues to impact on our league so that again at least four additional teams aren't able to compete this week. Not knowing how many others might be affected, we consider it best to cancel this week as well, hoping the problems reside by next week.
Sunday, Mar. 6th update: EVER MORE BACK TO NORMAL!... - NEXT: WEEK 16!

Monday, Feb. 21st update: WE START AGAIN! WEDNESDAY AT 19:30 - WEEK 14!
With declining numbers and multiple requests to start in again we're on to have another go! See you Wednesday!

As ever, stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO esblvie@yahoo.com.

previously...
Wednesday, Feb. 16th update: TONIGHT NOT, BUT LET'S TRY FOR NEXT WEEK!
The numbers are up again today, and we wait to see what our ministers decide; but a few murmurs about playing again are rising so we need to see about having a go starting next week. And yet, there's still little in emails about being able to show up, just dribbles of info on teams NOT able to organize players currently. SO... please help us determine whether to really go ahead next week or not!

So stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO esblvie@yahoo.com.

previously...
Monday, Feb. 14th update: AND AGAIN, WEDNESDAY LIKELY OFF! (too many teams declining to attend...)
Omicron seems to be tapering off, and yet, nobody is emailing any info about being able to show up, just dribbles of info on teams NOT able to organize players currently. SO... again it seems best to continue STANDING DOWN also for this week, Febuary 16th, and also wait and see what the latest "government experts" round on Wednesday brings in further changes.

So stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO detailed here below.

Wednesday, Feb. 9th update: AGAIN, OUR BOWLING ABEYANCE CONTINUES!...(means no bowling tonight)
Again, with daily numbers skipping about (and that without school agers in the counting this ski week) but much higher again today (38K), while the rules confusions slowly subside, we are still pretty much in the dark about teams' status as to quarantines/illnesses affecting their playing ability (nobody's reporting anything!). Thus, it seems best to continue STANDING DOWN at least for this week, Febuary 9th, and also wait and see what people bring back from the ski slopes next week as well.

So stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO detailed here below.

previously...
Sunday, Jan. 30th update: OUR BOWLING ABEYANCE CONTINUES!...
While the weekend numbers show lower today, but the government continues it's practice of daily changing rules confusion, AND amid various teams reporting positives and/or actual illnesses impacting their playing ability; it would seem best to continue STANDING DOWN at least for this week, Febuary 2nd, and perhaps "Energie Ferien week" next week as well.

So stay TUNED, and keep us informed of any thoughts, status changes, etc. via our MAILTO detailed here below.

Wednesday, Jan. 26th update: NO BOWLING TONIGHT!
And there you have it! Seeing today's numbers (34,000+ new positives), plus finally getting some feedback on positives showing up among our members (what else to expect with so many at the moment!), we see the necessity to HOLD OFF at least this week if not further weeks as this all develops further. Some additional teams have also indicated the inability to find sufficient players for this evening. How this also develops in the coming weeks will also need to be watched, leaving at least next week also in question.

SO... we STAND DOWN for tonight. Next week? STAY TUNED!

Tuesday, Jan. 25th update: Having checked with the alley people, it would seem they stand by the point that the 25 person rule does not apply as we are all playing in one place - i.e. not milling about like you do at hockey, soccer, dancing, and so forth. Thus they expect us to play.

If we instead BOW to the ANXIETIES from the numbers showing up each day, then we'll miss, perhaps not just this week, but who knows what else come next week when so many green passes are made invalid (or not if you've gotten your "booster" and registered it into your pass).

Not having heard much from y'all so far, I'd say, let's review this until early afternoon Wednesday (latest numbers, any additional "guidance" or "clarifications" from our authorities, etc.) and then decide how to proceed.

Recognizing how short notice this all is, bear with us as we further seek to sort this out! Stay tuned! - Don

(and remember to use F5 to REFRESH this page to really see the latest!)

Monday, Jan. 24th update: We've heard that other bowling halls have interpreted the 25 person rule on "sports activities" as applying to them. We've also heard that violations of the rule can result in €3600 fines to the alley as well as fines on INDIVIDUALS who are seen as breaking the rule.

While we have no idea how much longer such rules will "apply" we understand that the Phönix management has yet to tell us their take on these matters, so we're still in wait and see mode! However, I suspect our members won't be interested in potential fines - thus it may come to pass that come Wednesday we will be shut down until all this confusion is resolved.

So, PLEASE STAY TUNED!! - Don

Saturday, Jan. 22nd update: DILEMMA! DILEMMA! It seems the ÖSKB thinks nothing of pre-empting our bowling evening when spreading out their players to other evenings, including ours!

We've been notified that three of our teams, Pin Killers, Alley Gators, and Pinguins, all will be unable to play with us on Wednesdays because said ÖSKB has them playing with them instead!

So, their request that we BELAY our season until end of March or so, means that our 14 remaining teams would have to STAND DOWN and the bowling alley LOOSE OUR BUSINESS for this period!

My take on this would INSTEAD be to continue while putting those teams on BYE for as long as they choose to be away. We may still wind up being shut down again due to the developing circumstances, but I've been hearing sentiments about how "it's good that we can play again", and this should be honored!

If anyone has any another thoughts to add to this, please feel free to use our mailto esblvie@yahoo.com.

Thus, so far, it's still a GO for this coming Wednesday, the 26th. Who you play against is based on WEEK NUMBER - thus Week 14 this week! Rules remain: G2, masks away from playing area, and a drive to get done before 10PM Sperrstunde. Thus we start again at 18:45.

As of last week we also had the PIN EATERS joining our BYE list until fall, along side the HOT PITS and NO PROBLEM (we're INCREASINGLY SELF-DISTANCING!) This remains our only possibility to cover such fall-outs in a way that keeps the remaining teams on their toes with the same opportunity at easier points that several have already enjoyed.

We will still watch the numbers and whatever our experts decide to do about them. If any further changes we'll let you know... SEE YOU WEDNESDAY!

(older updates...)
Wednesday, Dec. 22nd, update:

While it seems the bowling alley will actually be open this Wednesday, the 22nd, so that we theoretically could play, the result would be an isolated round in the middle of everyone getting ready for the holidays... (and with indeterminate "G" requirements that keep changing...)

So..., NO BOWLING this evening.

Instead we can better make use of the chance to get out with friends and do our bit to support our favorite restaurants. In the meantime we'll be on our Christmas/New Year's break - for TWO weeks until January 5th for our next round, so until then...

Here's wishing you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY & JOYOUS NEW YEAR !!

Again, what then transpires at the 5th of January will most likely depend on the status of things at that point, meaning we'll have to see what the GECKO has in store for us vs. the omicron issue... Stay tuned!

(older updates...)

Tuesday, Dec. 14th update:

Told yesterday our bowling hall remains closed to bowling until the 20th (due to Gastronomie designation) so no bowling this Wednesday...

After that... we'll have to decide how we carry on...

Sunday, Nov.20th, update:

That sure came fast! It's official! Monday, Nov. 22, marks the start of the newest lockdown, and, thus, the closing of the bowling alley, obviating any further possibility of play until further notice!

We've now some time to think thru what this will mean for any continuation of our season once we get back to 2G+ or whatever say after 10 days, three weeks, after the holidays, who knows? Stay tuned!... - Don

Wednesday, Nov.17th, update:

Just 2G... no verification for +. PCR not yet needed. See you there! After tonight? We'll see!

Having gotten off to a successful and uneventful, 3G protected, season start these past two months, we're now challenged with a developing fourth wave situation potentially putting us AND the bowling alley into a 2G+ phase (for who knows how long, but probably more than the specified 10 days!)... which some of you have been asking about...

We still have to wait and see how much push back comes for the + part, i.e. the point about everybody getting a PCR test (with who knows what kind of lines you'll have to wait in!), but according to the bowling alley we will PROCEED AS NORMAL for this Wednesday, the 17th, at least until further notice... (we agreed, despite all the talk this weekend, we can't seem to find a specified "+" rule - niether on the orf.at nor the wko.at websites, and so we don't see any problems for this Wednesday. After that, who knows!

By the way, with our members being a representative sample of the overall population it seems that we're a really healthy group since no one has so far indicated ANY problems with symptoms or positive tests, or whatever (which of course is in our best interest to hear about!)? Are we really all that healthy? i.e. we've nothing to fear? any comments? (use mailto below)

To save you from having to scroll past our long record of crisis dealings and deliberations I've consolidated it into a separate info page here. - Don