TwitchCon Reverses Course, Will Have COVID-19 Safety Measures After All

gamespot.com:

Earlier this month, Twitch announced that TwitchCon would be returning to San Diego with no COVID-19 safety measures in place, per local California guidelines. Today, however, the company announced that it has reversed its policy, implementing a mask mandate indoors and requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for admittance into the event.

«We’ve been listening to all of your feedback and know that many of you–especially those who are immunocompromised and the people who support them–want stricter health measures in place to help you feel safe attending TwitchCon San Diego in person…Today, we’re updating our health measures to require masks in all indoor spaces at TwitchCon. Additionally, we will require all attendees to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative covid test taken within 72 hours of attending the show,» reads the now-updated post on TwitchCon's website.

We’ve heard from many of you that you want a safer TwitchCon, so we’re updating our policy. Masks will be required indoors, as well as either proof of vaccination or a negative covid test. Let’s make the ultimate squad up safe & accessible for everyone: https://t.co/RKeBF6oVzd pic.twitter.com/MI4lMZ1Jdh

Additionally, anyone who purchased a ticket to TwitchCon before August 12 is eligible for a refund until August 19 if they are upset with the revised policy.

The change comes on the heels of backlash from the Twitch community around the lack of any safety measures during TwitchCon's announcement earlier this month. Fans of the site immediately expressed disappointment over the lack of caution, and countless Twitch streamers suggested they might pull out of the convention entirely unless the company reconsidered its stance.

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