UK Games Expo Updates Covid Rules (Again!)

After altering its Covid guidelines last week to not require tests, vaccinations, or masks, UK Games Expo (which is at the end of this month) has posted a new update on its Covid policy, now requiring lateral flow tests and face masks.

Covid Status Evidence​

(Including Lateral Flow tests/ Vaccine Status etc)​

We request that all visitors 12 years and above take a home lateral flow test before coming to the venue.

Everyone aged 16 and up should present either an NHS Covid Pass or equivalent evidence on the first day of attending the event.

Children aged 12 to 15 cannot use the NHS Covid Pass and so should bring email or printed evidence of a negative Covid test.

No evidence is required for children under the age of 12.

The NHS Covid Pass is available to those with a negative Lateral Flow test or negative PCR test within the previous 48 hours, evidence of full vaccination or evidence of positive PCR test within the past 6 months providing this is after you've finished self-isolating and up to 180 days after taking the test. All of these are recognised by the NHS app as the evidence required for a NHS Covid Pass which is recommended by PHE for access to large events this summer. For those without the app installed, email or printed equivalent evidence will also be accepted.

You must show your NHS Covid Pass or equivalent evidence in electronic or paper form to gain access to the show. More details

Symptoms​

Please do not attend if you have symptoms of Covid and if you develop these during the event please leave immediately and seek medical advice.

Face Masks​

• PHE guidelines are to wear masks in crowded indoor spaces as well as when meeting with people you do not know and we support this.
• You must bring a face mask to the UK Games Expo unless you have medical exemptions.
• You must wear a face mask inside the UK Games Expo indoor spaces unless you have medical exemptions.
• In accordance with guidelines you may remove face masks when sat down at a table having a meal or a drink.
• Masks are not required for children under 12 years old.

 

[aco175]

Is things still that bad over there? Here in America, we are looking at September when school starts and if the kids need masks.

 

[Morrus]

Is things still that bad over there? Here in America, we are looking at September when school starts and if the kids need masks.

As of next week all legal restrictions are removed, but business owners can decide their own rules. With the Delta variant on the rise and looking exponential (like the other waves), I definitely appreciate those businesses that put safety first.

 

[wedgeski]

I've greatly missed UKGE for the last couple of years, but I don't think I'll be psychologically ready for the con experience until this thing is decidedly in our rear view mirror, which in the UK, it is not.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

Different countries have different rules. Football matches (using the non-US meaning) and Basketball and Hockey playoffs (I went to some games here) in the USA don’f require masks.

Conventions are all starting to open up and each will have to make their own choices. I am fully vaccinated and I only wear masks where required. My daughters wear them much more commonly even though they are fully vaccinated as well (both work in coffee/bubble tea places as part time work while in college).

Hopefully next year this will be much less of a concern.

 

[JEB]

Glad that they've adopted some precautions, but they've still left a sizeable gap in their defenses by having zero restrictions (no mask, no test) for under-12 kids.

 

[Ixal]

If that picture is any indication of how the attendence will be I assume that there will be a lot of spread during this event, especially considering how virulent Delta seems to be and how much lower the effectiveness of vaccines are, especially as the UK mainly used AstraZeneca instead BioNTech.
But I guess by now limiting the spread is impossible anyway unless you want to live in a permanent lockdown, so preventing hospitalizations through vaccination is the main goal.

 

[WisdomOfWombats]

Well, I guess that too many exhibitors have cancelled their participation. I received at least one newsletter where the company stated they wouldn’t participate anymore due to the then lax precautions.

 

[Morrus]

Well, I guess that too many exhibitors have cancelled their participation. I received at least one newsletter where the company stated they wouldn’t participate anymore due to the then lax precautions.

We’re not planning on attending any conventions as exhibitors this year.

 

[Maccwar]

Considering how convention crud demonstrates how easily bugs are spread in crowded indoor areas I think that taking precautions during a global pandemic is only sensible, especially as the number of cases in the UK is expected to soar over the coming weeks.

I'm meant to be running a participation game at a large event in November and right now I'm wondering if all the effort I'm putting into the preparations are just going to go to waste.