Mask Requirement for TwitchCon
After the surge of COVID cases after TwitchCon EU it was incredibly surprising to see the lack of mask policy for the event and makes many of us incredibly concerned about TwitchCon NA. Many other cons that have gone without a mask policy have only exacerbated the COVID cases where cons like PAX East, West etc have had much lower cases by having a strict mask policy.
We hear you and take these concerns seriously. In response to all of your feedback, we are updating our TwitchCon policies to require masks, as well as either proof of vaccination or a negative covid test. We will continue to review our health and safety guidelines along with local authorities in order to keep our community safe IRL at TwitchCon San Diego. Thank you for making your voice heard. More info is available here.
-
roleyylive commented
Countless people have reported having symptoms of covid/covid after big events where vaccinations were not required. It would be a lot safer if vaccinations were required. Covid is still very much ongoing, and masks and vaccinations should BOTH be required at a big event.
-
muukaade commented
Would be even better if there was a full vaccination requirement for any attendees as well
-
AlwaysNikki commented
As a chronically ill streamer who is awaiting test results to check for autoimmune disorders, it’s disheartening to see Twitch say “we don’t care about people like you.” Masks and vaccines should be required, end of story.
-
CJ_Laufeyson commented
the fact that this has to be created shows us just how much twitch really dont give a f**k about its communities.
-
tiny_misfortunes commented
I’m a nurse and covid is far from over. Please require masking and vaccinations, or masks with a negative test. I am tired of seeing covid surges after cons!
-
devise222 commented
The immediate reaction to the decision to forgo any protections during a pandemic should be telling enough. Support for those who wish to be safe should come before those who don't care and would likely comply to mandates if they were in place anyway. Inconvenience is not more important than inclusion and lives.
-
FalconFlavoredPunch commented
Covid is still around and it is still an organizations job to mitigate its potentially serious effects on an events participants. Require Vax and masks, it's irresponsible otherwise.
-
Lisjustice commented
I know it feels covid is over but it's still very around. Having vaccine cards and masks has help lessen the spread of it. Please think about reconsidering these policies. Look at how many people at europe twitchcon got covid. Think about those who will be negatively impacted by this past convention.
-
em578 commented
Acting like the pandemic is over is a good way to get a lot of people sick and cause a mass outbreak when they return home, especially with largly young attendents who might have mild/no symptoms
-
synxiec commented
At this point with news continuing to appear DAILY about the carnage left in the wake of Covid AND an additional pandemic happening in tandem, mandatory masking + proof of vaccination should be a bare minimum thing. C'mon now...
-
AliasV commented
This is irresponsible and dangerous. Proof of vaccination and masks should be bare minimum. Do better, Twitch.
-
TrueblueDS commented
I know people that came from the last Twitch Con in Europe with COVID. Human lives should not be sacrificed for your financial gain.
-
Kstroupe89 commented
You will never see me at another one of your cons or any meetups if you are not taking what built your platform..the people's thoughts and concerns in mind about a global pandemic
-
solitude_of_a_bee commented
Make masks and Covid vaccines a requirement for twitchcon. The pandemic is not over and people are coming from everywhere for twitchcon so it’s the most responsible thing to do
-
bananarama3645og commented
No mask or vaccination requirement along with no negative testing required is reckless and irresponsible. We all understand wanting a large turn out, but don't try to get a large crowd by sacrificing people's saftey. The daily cases of covid are continuing to rise every day. I hope you will do the right thing twitch as I would love to come to twitch con but neither me nor my family will be present if there are no restrictions in place at all. It is dangerous and irresponsible
-
pseudonymist commented
It is unconscionable to not require masking and proof of vaccination for an event of this size. This pandemic is not over and working in healthcare, I can tell you that folks are still dying preventable deaths due to reckless action by large events such as this. I will certainly not be attending ANY events without those measures and I will be encouraging others to not attend as well. SDCC required masking and it was still full of breakthrough cases. This is the bare minimum.
-
blubebby commented
In addition to/If not a mask requirement, I would feel much safer going to Twitchcon if there was a proof of vaccination required. Having no mask, vaccine, or negative-test requirement is incredibly irresponsible, especially with so many people in one relatively small enclosed space. Conventions are already breeding grounds for diseases, so to not do ANYTHING to try and limit the spread of COVID is irresponsible and possible grounds for legal action should a worst-case scenario arise. Twitch needs to be better about the safety of congoers, their staff and volunteers at the cons, and the special guests.
-
jaybeeee_ commented
If twitch want to show that they actually care for the disabled community within their platform, they need to go above and beyond city or government advice and actually listen to those who will inevitably be affected by twitch's lack of action on this front. A lack of a vaccine requirement isolates already historically isolated disabled and immunocompromised communities, some of whom have found a space for themselves on twitch.
And after the success mask and/or vaccine requirements have shown in the past at both conventions and other large events, it would be absurd to not enforce a similar rule
Vaccine requirements also helps to protect not just all attendees, streamers or otherwise, but it also protects others like security, catering staff, etc. It would be unfair to create an event like this, outsource security and other staff, only to allow covid positive people into the venue with nothing in place to help prevent the spread of the virus. The average working person does not deserve to get covid and possibly take time off of work that they cannot pay for simply for doing their job
-
jaybeeee_ commented
Would be great to, if not at least have a mask requirement, have a vaccine and/or a negative test required for entry for each day of the convention itself. Providing a negative test on arrival at a minimum makes perfect sense to prevent covid from spreading within the con itself, and helps keep both streamers and all attendees safe and able to make the most of their time there. With free vaccines readily avaliable, it does not make sense to NOT have a vaccine requirement as anyone and everyone can very easily get them. For those who cannot be vaccinated or wear a mask, perhaps a system to apply for or alert security that they have a legitimate reason for not wearing a mask or being vaccinated could be put in place, as it would be unfair and inevitably ableist to refuse them entry for reasons beyond their control. Vaccine, mask, and test requirements keeps everyone safe, and makes the con more accessible for those who are disabled and/or at high risk for covid
Refusing to adopt at least some kind of prevention methods is just downright irresponsible. As many others have said, twitch and the communities created have been a lifeline for disabled people, notably through the pandemic and lockdowns where they were isolated due to lack of government empathy. Protecting disabled lives is the bare minimum twitch can do, especially as so many other conventions of similar sizes have successfully managed to enforce mask requirements and help limit the spread of covid. I genuinely do not know how you could reasonably argue that there should not be any kind of methods or change to protect attendees
-
ArcturusSaDiablo commented
TwitchCon not having any mask, vax, or test mandate for their event is just downright irresponsible. Twitch has been a lifeline for many, and especially so for those with health issues and disabilities. Even events like DragonCon still mandate masks for all indoor spaces at their event. It feels like Twitch is unwilling to do even the bare minimum to keep attendees safe. I cannot support an event that willfully excludes such a large segment of their base.