This week, TwitchConupdated the Health Measures pagefor its upcoming 2022 event in San Diego to say that it will not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry. Moreover, while TwitchCon still encourages the use of masks, they will also not be required for the October event.
As one might expect, the updated Health Measures section has led to a lot of confusion and frustration from within the Twitch community. While these measures by no means ensure that an attendee won’t contract COVID-19 while atTwitchCon 2022, they at least offer some semblance of protection. Now, folks who were planning on making the trip to San Diego are rethinking that decision.
As of yet, Twitch has not publicly commented on the change, but it likely will in the coming days. The hope is that the comment will also include another update to the policy that will revert to the expected guidelines – the same guidelines thatSan Diego Comic-Conused just last month during its massive event.
In the Health Measures section,Twitchsays the changes were made in accordance with local guidelines and while it is true that San Diego doesn’t have these types of mandates in place, it doesn’t mean that the event can’t make its own rules. Comic-Con wanted to welcome back its 100,000+ faithful fans will the assurance that it was doing its best to keep them safe.
As someone thatattended Comic-Con last month, there was enough done to make a reasonable attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. First, attendees needed to confirm vaccination status or show a negative test to gain a wristband. This wristband was just as essential for getting near the San Diego Convention Center (not even entering it) as a Comic-Con badge.
Comic-Con International also required that everyone wear a mask at all times. The volunteers, employees, and Comic-Con security were diligent about enforcing the mask rule, even going so far as to call out anyone who wasn’t wearing their mask properly.
Obviously, Comic-Con has been enforcing rules and regulating large crowds for years now, and so they have a system in place that could easily adapt to the COVID-19 requirements. But it’s also a much bigger event than TwitchCon. So why is Twitch not following suit?
TwitchCon Faces Backlash Over Health Update
To see the type of issues that can arise from no mandates one need only look to TwitchCon EU, which took place in Amsterdam in mid-July. There were numerousreports of TwitchCon EU attendeescontracting COVID-19, presumably from the event, and saying that they wish the mandates had been in place. Those same people are now warning folks against attending TwitchCon San Diego lest they want to be exposed to COVID.
Obviously, no amount of health and safety guidelines is going to protect everyone, but having nothing in place raises a lot of red flags. Comic-Con executed a plan to the best of its ability from my perspective and it didn’t lead to any more inconveniences than normal. Yes, Comic-Con would have been sold out without the mandates and TwitchCon is sure to be packed as well, but it’s still not the right message to send to partners and viewers. Hopefully, Twitch can address this decision and, ideally, make a change.
