Earlier today, the organizers of the Penny Arcade Expo have announced that the upcoming PAX West 2021 will have stricter Covid-19 policies in play. While before the event was simply requiring that every attendee, vaccinated or not, wear a mask, the event organizers announced today that attendees will now need to prove they've taken the vaccine or have a negative Covid-19 test result.
Covid-19 is back on the rise around the country, and there was much concern over what seemed to be a lax policy by the PAX West 2021 organizers. However, on Twitter today the team behind the event made the announcement, stating that it is following the recommendations set forth by both "state and local public health authorities."
We're pleased to announce that, in line with the recommendations of state and local public health authorities, we will be implementing a vaccination or negative COVID-19 test requirement for everyone at #PAXWest. Read the full update at: https://t.co/1ZtYPOCQeI pic.twitter.com/hZJkFeRngR
— PAX (@pax) July 27, 2021
"Prior to entry we will now require proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination series or a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test, each to be verified with a valid, government issued ID," ReedPop's Kyle Marsden-Kish states on the PAX website. They continue:
"When PAX West 2021 badges were announced, the PAX Team made the decision to communicate what we could commit to at that time, rather than what we were working toward. While we let the community know the health and safety guidelines could evolve, we wanted to get it right and we feel confident that verification of fully vaccination or negative test, along with continued face covering requirements for everyone, will create an environment that promotes the wellbeing of our PAX community."
PAX West 2021 is set to start on September 3rd and run through the 6th in Seattle, Washington. The event marks one of the first major in-person gaming events since the Covid-19 pandemic shut down much of the world back in March of 2020. While many badges have sold, ReddPop announced with today's update that they are releasing more day 4 badges for sale, which were previously sold out.
