The organizers of Anime Expo have announced on Monday that the highly anticipated anime and cosplay convention of the year will still push through despite concerns of the current coronavirus outbreak. They have also stated they will constantly monitor the situation and will provide updates if there will be any changes.
This year’s Anime Expo will be happening on July 2 to July 5.
Other major events that are happening in the West will still push through or postpone for the meantime until the outbreak has been contained. The highly-anticipated Las Vegas fighting game tournament Evolution Championship Series (EVO) is still pushing through and on schedule. This was confirmed by its organizer Joey Cuellar. So far they have no plans of either cancelling or postponing this event.
The Tokyo Tekken Masters tournament, which is organized by Bandai Namco Entertainment will be postponed to a later date this year. The event was originally scheduled to April 4 and 5.
Full Statement of Anime Expo (from their website):
With regard to the COVID-19 coronavirus, the team at SPJA is paying close attention to the evolving situation. The safety and health of our attendees, partners, exhibitors, and staff are of the utmost importance to us.
Anime Expo 2020 is still planned to take place as scheduled in Los Angeles in early July, and our team is working hard to deliver a fun and memorable experience for our attendees. With that being said, the health and safety of our community is our number one priority. During the coming weeks, we will continue to monitor the situation, review the guidance by global health authorities, and consider all factors as it relates to the Anime Expo community.
Sincerely,
Ray Chiang
CEO
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
How to Protect Your Health During Con Season
The Coronavirus is undeniably a health problem at present and people are still desperate for answers and hope that the crisis will be controlled or contained soon. A lot of places are locked down, travels bans being implemented, and some events canceled. However, in the midst of this growing health crisis, some anime and hobby conventions still continue to push through their dates. As an old saying goes, the show must go on!
People are now advised to stay safe and avoid very crowded places for the meantime until the situation improves. However, this doesn’t mean that we are not allowed to have fun this year. Here are some of our tips on how to protect yourself from this virus and how to improve your health before, during, and after the convention weekend. Note that this is based and inspired from various discussions as well as many health-related articles. We hope that in a way this will help you.
Check Official Social Media Accounts of the Conventions You Are Going
Before you are going to push through your cosplay and convention plans for this one specific weekend, it’s best that you check out the official social media accounts of the conventions that you are going. Check if it’s either pushed to a different date or canceled. Remember that organizers do their best for the benefit of their attendees. So if ever such decisions will be made, then these are for the best.
Also, don’t worry if the convention that you’re going is going to be canceled and you have already pre-ordered your passes. Organizers will be refunding them to you. Just keep yourself posted on their official updates.
Take Vitamins and Eat Healthily
During this season of a health crisis, it’s time to take the phrase health is wealth seriously. Be sure to take multivitamins and have healthy meals every day. Adding fruits and vegetables into your diet can make a difference.
Don’t Feel Bad if the Con is Cancelled
If ever the convention that you suppose to attend to is really canceled, don’t feel bad! There’s always a next year. Big conventions will always be there. If they have to cancel for health safety reasons, then expect next year’s con to be more awesome.
Bring a Mask
Knowing that you will be going to a public place filled with a lot of people, it’s highly recommended that you bring a mask with you. Disposable surgical or medical masks are the best ones right now.
Always Wash Your Hands
Always make it a habit to regularly wash your hands especially during the whole convention weekend. Con organizers might provide hand sanitizers and alcohols inside the venue so be sure to sanitize your hands upon getting inside.
Always Follow Implemented Protocols by Convention Organizers
To make sure that everyone will have a great and safe time during conventions, it’s always a must that everyone should follow the protocols implemented by convention organizers. Always keep in mind that this is for the safety for everyone who are attending the con.
Never Forget to Have Fun!
As always, conventions are always the great avenue to meet old and new friends who share the same passion for anime, manga, comics, and video games with you. Never forget to have fun! It’s time to forget the stress of school or work even for just one whole weekend and be proud that you are in one of the most awesome events of the year!
Source: ANN