As convention season kicks off, pop culture enthusiasts are asking themselves if it is safe to attend big conventions, and what if any conventions have been canceled or postponed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Here, we are going to be talking about staying healthy during the con season and what you should know about Coronavirus & Con Crud, the symptoms, myths and more.
What is Con Crud?
Con Crud is a name given to illness contracted at a convention. Usually a cold or the flu. Currently, Flu activity is high in the U.S. and expected to continue for weeks. We are in what people refer to as Flu Season.
Con Crud Symptoms
Concrud could be as small as the common cold or an upset stomach. If it is Flu, then the Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms, including fever (not everyone who has the flu will get a fever) or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and/or fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
What is Coronavirus?
The Center for Disease Control explains that Coronavirus is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
Coronavirus Symptoms
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
If a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract (your windpipe and your lungs), then it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people, people with heart disease, or people with weakened immune systems.
How Does Coronavirus and Con Crud Spread?
According to the Center for Disease Control, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and is sustainable in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, if you are still considering heading to your favorite con, then here are some things to know.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website. For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick. Nobody likes missing a con! We get it. The fear of missing out is real. If you are a vendor, exhibitor or cosplayer who has been working hard leading up to a particular con, then it can be extra heartbreaking. However, keeping others in the community safe from illness and your own personal recovery is more important. Be the hero we deserve. If you are sick, then stay home and get better.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Don’t carry that dirty tissue around with you all day, throw that sucker out and get a new one. Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you must. Do not cough into your bare hands. If you do, wash them immediately.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Be aware of what you touch. Escalators, stairwell handles, doors, knobs, counters, and toilet handles are some of the most-touched things in a convention center. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth while at a big event.
- Avoid Con Crunch – Con crunch is the time in between the convention and the time that you actually started working on your convention project. Whether you are a vendor putting together your items to sell or getting ready for the convention or as a cosplayer getting your cosplay items and projects in order. Procrastination, running out of time, or not planning accordingly can actually be dangerous to your health. Staying up late to finish last-minute projects and not getting enough sleep can really lower your immunity. Getting plenty of sleep is important to keeping your immune system in top shape during the con season.
Do I need a Facemask?
CDC does not recommend that people who are well/healthy wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Myths about Coronavirus
There are plenty of rumors, false alarms, misinformation and conspiracy theories spreading in regards to the Coronavirus. It is important to be aware of what is being said and what is actually true.
Check out Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
Where to get up to date information
Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Information For
- Communities, schools, and businesses
- Healthcare professionals
- Health departments
- Travel
- Laboratories
Statements from the Conventions
Emerald City Comic Con seems to be the convention most affected by the virus at the moment. With exhibitors like Dark Horse Comic and Penguin Random House pulling out.
Important #ECCC2020 notice: Due to the severity of the COVID-19 virus, Dark Horse Comics has made the difficult decision to pull out of Emerald City Comic Con 2020. It is with the safety and well-being of our staff and creators in mind that we have come to this decision. 1/2
— Dark Horse Comics (@DarkHorseComics) March 3, 2020
Penguin Random House has canceled its participation in the upcoming Emerald City Comic Con due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus. While this show is an important way for our staff & authors to connect w/ readers, their health & safety take priority.
— Penguin Random House 🐧🏠📚 (@penguinrandom) March 3, 2020
ECCC 2020 will take place as scheduled March 12th -15th at the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) in downtown Seattle. We have implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitization across the show, including adhering to the recommendations set forth in the U.S. EPA’s Emerging Pathogen Policy regarding cleaning disinfectants effective against the COVID19 virus.
UPDATE: As of March 6th, Emerald city comic is postponed until the summer of 2020. More information on available at the ECCC website.
In California Governor Newsom declared State of Emergency to help the state prepare for a broader spread of COVID-19. California is hosting hundreds of pop culture and comic book conventions this year alone. Some of the biggest conventions like Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con and the upcoming Wondercon event all bring in thousands of visitors to their respective conventions centers. The bigger conventions have made statements in regards to the virus.
How will this affect Wondercon? As of March 3rd, There are no coronavirus cases known to the city here in Anaheim. The city of Anaheim is closely watching the coronavirus outbreak. Beyond basic precautions, there are no specific concerns for Anaheim, with daily life continuing as usual. There are no federal, state or local health advisories for our city or Orange County. You can track updates for Anaheim at Anaheim.net/coronavirus.
Anime Expo takes place at the Los Angeles convention center and brings in one of the largest conventions crowds to the city. They have stated that, “The safety and health of our attendees, partners, exhibitors, and staff are of the utmost importance to us. Anime Expo 2020 is still planned to take place as scheduled in Los Angeles in early July, and our team is working hard to deliver a fun and memorable experience for our attendees.”
Shortly after Anime Expo, the crowds will descend upon San Diego Convention Center for Comic Con International. It is the largest pop culture event in North America and brings over a hundred thousand people to the San Diego area. The San Diego Convention Center has put out a statement that reads:
“The San Diego Convention Center is closely monitoring the international outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China (COVID-19). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of March 2, the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time; however, the SDCC team has increased precautionary measures, training, and communication throughout the facility.
SDCC is closely monitoring the situation through updates from the CDC and the California Department of Public Health, along with direct dialogue with San Diego officials. Precautionary measures include enhancing onsite communications and signage in restrooms regarding preventative actions (outlined below), placing an increased number of hand sanitizer stations throughout the building, increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched objects, and providing ongoing training for SDCC staff and partners regarding best practices for providing a safe and healthy environment.”
If you are curious if your local event will be effected, then contact the convention directly as well as the location that is hosting the event (hotel, convention center, building site).
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