With plenty of questions in the air regarding trade shows and the new Delta variant of COVID-19, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is confirming its stance for the upcoming CES 2022 trade show, which is scheduled to take place January 5-8, 2022. According to an official statement, in-person attendees will not be permitted to attend without providing proof of having received the COVID-19 vaccinations.
For those who cannot or prefer not to attend the show in person, there will be another digital event running parallel with the in-person program.
“Based on today’s science, we understand vaccines offer us the best hope for stopping the spread of COVID-19,” says Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, CTA. “We all play a part in ending the pandemic through encouraging vaccinations and implementing the right safety protocols. We are taking on our responsibility by requiring proof of vaccination to attend CES 2022 in Las Vegas.”
CTA is also assessing the acceptance of proof of a positive antibody test as an alternative requirement and will share more details at a later date. “Safety, security, and health are a priority at CES,” the prepared announcement continues, “and we will follow state and local guidelines and recommendations by the CDC. CTA will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and will announce additional or modified protocols closer to the show.”
As it stands, the show is poised to serve as host to more than 1,000 companies, including both major brands and start-ups. There will be new categories of product as well, including space tech, food tech, and NFTs. As with every year, the show will also highlight new developments in AI, AR/VR, gaming and computing, digital health, automotive and transportation, home entertainment, smart home, and more.
Audiences will hear from industry leaders during live keynotes, including General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. The CES keynote schedule will be updated regularly as speakers are announced.
Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2022 will convene the tech industry in-person and digitally, Wednesday, January 5 to Saturday, January 8, with Media Days taking place Monday, January 3 to Tuesday, January 4.
Visit CES.tech for all CES 2022 updates, including safety and security, and registration details.