TwitchCon San Diego will not require masks or vaccinations

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

There will be no testing, vaccination, or mask requirements as a result of the monkeypox state of emergency declared by California.

There will be no requirement for vaccinations or testing at the convention. Although masks are encouraged, they are not required to attend a convention.

There was a policy in place for the event. Nazih said he left after four hours because he was worried about his health.

It was as if the whole thing was over. The partner lounge was cramped, the hygiene level was sub-par, and the bar area was not good.

Many streamers expressed outrage and hesitation after learning that the same policy would be in place in San Diego.

Gary Whitta said that he had booked a hotel room for the event. I plan to stay home unless they revisit their policy after the news that they don't require vaccinations or masks.

While it is true that masking and vaccination requirements are being relaxed across the country in step with guidance from public health officials, California seems to be in the midst of a COVID surge due to the virus' variant and subvariants. Even if mask mandates are no longer in effect for some parts of California, it doesn't mean they can't enforce their own policies.

San Diego Comic-Con, which took place July 21st to 24th in the same convention center, required proof of vaccinations or a negative test. Game of thrones writer George R.R. Martin was one of the people who got infections, according to a report on the con.

Not only is it a safety issue, but it is also an accessibility issue. There are more than 56 million potential disabled players, and countless people who are immunocompromised, who just want to enjoy these celebrations of gaming.

No gathering of this scale could be 100 percent safe with mask and vaccine requirements in place.

He said that the risk of exposure and risks to people's health can be mitigated with a few simple precautions. People with disabilities should be included in safety measures.

The site reached out to the streamer but hasn't heard back. There is a convention in San Diego on October 7th-9th.