NEW YORK, New York – A new report indicates that Anime NYC, a creation of Leftfield Media, part of the Clarion Events family, was not an Omicron superspreader event as many had originally feared.
“These findings reinforce the importance of implementing multiple, simultaneous prevention measures, such as ensuring up-to-date vaccination, mask wearing, physical distancing, and improved ventilation to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at large indoor events,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement.
Ventilation, mandatory vaccinations and masks have helped keep transmission low, the CDC added.
Omicron should not cause panic
Anime NYC and the Javits Center, a STAR accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), worked together to create the safest possible experience for all attendees, exhibitors, and guests. Measures implemented included specialized hospital-grade air filters installed throughout the Javits Center to improve air quality and reduce airborne contaminants.
Anime NYC added 161,000 square feet of additional space for social distancing and aisles were widened to an average of 15 feet. Sanitation crews were increased throughout the weekend to clean the building, hand sanitizer was readily available, and signage on proper hygiene practices was also increased.
In December, a Minnesota man who attended the convention was infected with the Omicron virus, sparking panic in the media and among the 53,000 people attending the convention.
But the CDC found no evidence of widespread transmission at the convention beyond a cluster of close contacts of the Minnesota attendee.
Of the 4,560 people at the convention, 2.6% tested positive, according to the CDC. Of 20 samples tested, 15 cases were linked to the Delta virus and five to Omicron.
According to the CDC, transmission has primarily occurred during maskless indoor activities outside of official convention events. The Minnesota man’s contact group was together maskless at restaurants and bars, the CDC said. Of the man’s 23 close contacts who were tested, 16 were positive, and of the 18 household contacts who were tested, 6 were positive.
Greg Topalian Speaks
Trade Fair Manager reached out to Greg Topalian, CEO of Clarion Events North America, about the widespread news that Anime NYC, one of his company’s shows, was not an Omicron superspreader event and here’s what he had to say:
How did it feel to be in the spotlight of those damning headlines about your New York anime convention in December? How does it feel now? Do you feel validated?
As a large-scale event organizer, we take seriously our responsibility to create as safe an environment as possible for our community. COVID has been and continues to be a serious and unfortunate scenario, not only for our industry, but for the world. We are continually working with our venues and local and national health authorities to implement the best protocols possible with the information available at the time. Learning that someone is sick is a serious matter, and we wish everyone affected by COVID a speedy recovery and the best possible outcomes. Beyond the stress this has created for our team, I was concerned that the media coverage would negatively impact the industry as a whole, so I am very pleased with the latest media coverage for my team and the industry as a whole.
We’ve been hearing for months that a trade show organizer’s best defense is a layered response. Is that what helped at this show?
The multi-layered response is a result of strong partnerships and support from our venues, maintenance staff, local health officials, and our entire community involved and participating in our events. This is essential, and I am very grateful to the Javits Center for their partnership.
What do you think the future of COVID and trade shows will be?
As the last two years have proven, we can’t necessarily predict what the future holds. What we can do is work closely with our communities to understand what will make them feel safe to participate and engage in our events. We are seeing a growing demand for a return to in-person events across all the sectors we serve, and we are working closely with our venues to continue to implement the appropriate health and safety measures based on the current risk level at each event. At this time, this is not a cookie-cutter approach. Each region, each sector, and even each month of an event has different needs and definitions of what constitutes the optimal operating scenario at this time. I feel we are reaching a new stage in the pandemic where an individual’s choice regarding risk levels and mitigation will become a more important factor in planning and decision-making.
Contact Greg Topalian at (203) 550-2139 or [email protected]