TwitchCon 2022: Do You Have to Wear a Mask, be Vaccinated?

TwitchCon's health guidelines this year have raised concern about health and safety among some participants.

After a COVID-19 surge in California from April to July that is now finally seeing a decline, TwitchCon San Diego updated its health measures policy, dropping its testing, vaccination, and mask requirements. The highly anticipated event will take place on October 7 to 9 at the San Diego Convention Center.

A statement on the TwitchCon 2022 website said that TwitchCon San Diego will not have any COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements "in accordance with current local guidelines." They added that while face masks are encouraged, it is not required to attend the event.

TwitchCon San Diego Dropping Mask and Vaccine Requirements Raises Concern Among Attendants

A similar absence of mask and vaccine requirements was in place for last month's TwitchCon Amsterdam, The Verge reported. Twitch partner Nazih Fares reported that he left after just four hours as he was concerned for his health despite having a full vaccination status.

Fares remarked that the energy during the event was like "as if the whole pandemic never happened." He expressed disappointment that TwitchCon did not "lead by example," sharing that the partner lounge was filled with people and hygiene in the area was below minimum COVID-19 health standards.

When streamers found out that TwitchCon San Diego will adopt similar relaxed mask and vaccine requirements, many became hesitant to attend the event and others expressed outrage at the lack of health and safety standards. Some have even announced that they will no longer attend the event because it did not make them feel safe to do so.

Participants and Attendees Pulling Out of TwitchCon 2022 Following Relaxed Health Guidelines

Industry watcher Zach Bussey questioned TwitchCon 2022's decision to drop mask and vaccine requirements despite holding the event in the very same venue where last month's Comic-Con took place. This year's Comic-Con required both mask-wearing and proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, The Gamer reported.

Twitch partner and screenwriter Gary Whitta shared that he had already booked a hotel room and planned to attend TwitchCon 2022, but has decided against going after the event announced its updated health requirements. He added that "unless they revisit their policy," he would opt to stay home and not attend the event.

According to the Sacramento Bee, the California Department of Public Health said on Tuesday that the statewide COVID-19 positivity rate was at 14.5%, a decrease from the peak of 16.3% on July 15. The latest daily case rate also saw a decrease of 10% with 40.7 per 100,000 residents in the past week.

If this trend continues, the state of California may see less COVID-19 positivity rates and cases by October, when TwitchCon San Diego takes place. However, organizers must take into account that not all attendees will be from California alone and some will be coming from other states or even countries.

TwitchCon 2022 confirmed that their health and safety measures for the upcoming event "may change at any time as determined by federal or local government agencies."