I phoned United today (3/20) to cancel our 4/27 Europe United Award Flights. I was told I had two choices: change our reservation so that travel ends no later than one year anniversary of purchase on 1/15/20, or cancel booking. If I was to cancel, there was no way to avoid $125 per person redeposit fee.
When I told rep that I would wait until United cancelled the flights so that my miles would automatically redeposited without a fee, the United Rep said that I would still have to pay the $125 per person redeposit fee. She then said that a cancellation for Coronavirus reasons was like an act of god, that the airline wasn't responsible, and that there was no way for me to avoid redeposit fee.