John Locher / AP
In this January 7, 2020 file photo, crowds enter the convention center on the first day of the CES tech show in Las Vegas.
Published Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 12:52 p.m.
Updated 3 hours, 8 minutes ago
Vaccine screening at key venues turned out to be a coronavirus battle front in Nevada on Tuesday, with Las Vegas’ largest trade conference after the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders announced that attendees will need to prove they are vaccinated.
CES gadget show sponsor, the Consumer Technology Association, said attendees will need to be vaccinated in January to enter venues like the expanded Las Vegas Convention Center, Mandalay Bay, and the Sands Expo Center.
“We know vaccines offer us the best hope of stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the association, in a statement. “We are taking our responsibility seriously by requiring proof of vaccination in order to attend CES 2022 in Las Vegas.”
The announcement came a day after Governor Steve Sisolak said indoor venues with 4,000 or more attendees may opt out of the state’s mask requirement if they opt for a program that ensures attendees have vaccinations.
The state vaccination rate topped 60% for the first time on Tuesday for people 12 and older who received at least one dose. State health officials say 49.5% are fully vaccinated. In the Las Vegas area, the numbers increased by 60.7% and 48.6%, respectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 72% of eligible adults nationwide have vaccinated. The number has lagged behind in Nevada, where there are protests against vaccinations and without a mask.
“This is not a mandate. It’s not a requirement, ”said the Democratic governor on Monday. “We’re not rolling anything back. It’s about getting more people vaccinated. “
Following Sisolak’s announcement, the Raiders quickly unveiled their first NFL policy requiring fans to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium. Participants will need to provide verification via a CLEAR mobile app and Health Pass feature, starting with a home game on September 13th.
Sisolak said one dose of a two-dose vaccination will get people in the door, but they will still need to wear face coverings. Fully vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks, he said. He cited the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The governor said he saw photos of fans exposed at recent soccer and football matches and formulated his instruction as a voluntary option for event organizers who do not want to enforce a mask requirement.
Live Nation, the operator of two well-known music venues on the Las Vegas Strip – House of Blues in Mandalay Bay and Brooklyn Bowl on Linq Promenade – previously said ticket holders will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from October.
The company also works with Caesars Entertainment to host residential shows at the 4,000-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace and the 7,000-seat Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood, as well as MGM Resorts International for events at the 6,400-seat Park Theater.
CES said it was considering whether to accept proof of a positive antibody test as an alternative to a vaccination card.
Lori Nelson-Kraft, an official with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, expressed her support for the CES decision, calling it a “commitment to reduce the spread of the virus and prioritize the health and wellbeing of its exhibitors and attendees” .
The four-day electronic products fair drew more than 180,000 people in January 2020, two months before the pandemic. It ran online in 2021 due to event closings and travel restrictions.
The 2022 conference plans both a digital version and a live event.
