LAS VEGAS —With the Omicron wave expected to peak in the U.S. in January, all eyes are on CES 2022, which will be held in Las Vegas from January 5-8 and is expected to attract more than 2,100 exhibitors and 149,000 to 170,000 attendees.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, said he continues to see new exhibitors registering every day. Now, the world’s most influential tech show is taking significant steps to protect every attendee from COVID.
“In August, we announced that all CES attendees must be fully vaccinated,” Shapiro said. “CES will now also offer free rapid COVID-19 testing onsite at badge redemption points, an additional measure to protect the health and safety of all our attendees, exhibitors and employees.”
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CES recommends that attendees get tested for COVID before arriving in Las Vegas and at least 24 hours before entering a show venue. Upon arrival at designated badge pickup locations, attendees will be provided with Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 self-test kits. Each kit contains two rapid tests, which can be used while attending the show. The test is easy to use and takes 15 minutes.
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Detailed protocols on the CES website outline all safety measures, as well as protocols to follow if an attendee becomes ill on-site. First aid areas have been set up at CES venues where attendees can obtain a rapid molecular nucleic acid amplification test, with results available within 25 minutes. If a person tests positive on the molecular test, the show will return them to the hotel for quarantine.
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CES attendees are encouraged to download the COVID Trace app developed by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. The mobile app uses a technology called Exposure Notifications System from Google and Apple.
Contact Gary Shapiro at (703) 907-7600 or gshapiro@cta.tech