Many Anime Expo 2022 Attendees are Still Reporting Positive COVID-19 Tests

anime expo 2022 covid positive tests

anime expo 2022 covid positive tests

It has been over a week now since the event concluded, but there are still lots of Anime Expo 2022 attendees posting positive COVID-19 tests online.

Specifically, lots of event attendees have taken to Twitter to share that they are COVID-positive and to encourage other people who joined to get tested as well.

The positive COVID tests were shared by a range of attendees, including artists and cosplayers.

Over the past week since the event’s last day on July 4, Anime Expo 2022 attendees have continued to share their positive COVID tests.

The reports are large enough in number that Cartoon Brew has called it a “major COVID spreader event” due to the claims that the event did not enforce its masking policies.

There are multiple possible reasons why there have been lots of COVID cases from Anime Expo 2022, one of which is the new BA.4 and BA.5. strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which are reportedly more transmissible and are becoming the dominant strains in the US.

Another reason put forth by some attendees is that the Anime Expo 2022's enforcement of its COVID policies was lacking.

The event requires attendees to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours. Though some have reported that the COVID verification process was hurried and not strict.

In a report by Anime News Network, the management of the event’s Artist Alley was criticized for being irresponsible. This is due to a myriad of factors, including improper ventilation which caused CO2 levels in the Artist Alley area to spike according to CO2 readings taken at the event.

Along with ventilation issues, the report also mentioned several heat exhaustion claims among artists and attendees. Also mentioned was the lack of mask policy enforcement.

Currently, Anime Expo 2022 has yet to address these reports.