Anime Expo 2022 has officially reinstated its vaccination requirements for attendees after severe backlash over the policy change.

On June 8, the convention -- which will be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 1 - 4 -- announced a controversial update to its attendance policy, stating, "while face coverings will still be required inside the LACC, we will no longer be requiring proof of vaccination or negative test for entry." This decision was immediately met with immense backlash from the North American anime community. Both fans and professionals alike, such as The Seven Deadly Sins and Person 5 voice actor Erika Harlacher, asserted the change would bring about major health concerns for attendees. Anime Expo quickly bowed to public pressure and has now reversed course, according to a recent social media post.

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The final vaccination policy is available on the Health & Safety page of the convention's website. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the organization behind Anime Expo, "will be requiring all attendees of AX 2022 to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to attending the event." Moreover, all attendees regardless of vaccination status will need to be masked unless outdoors or actively eating or drinking. These requirements will apply to all attendees whether they be "exhibitors, artists, vendors, guests, staff, press, industry, volunteers, and cosplayers."

Los Angeles County is currently classified as a medium-risk area for COVID-19 by the CDC, and according to the county's Public Health office, over 3,700 new cases of the disease were reported on June 7; that number has since risen to over 6,100. L.A. County's seven-day daily average for positive COVID-19 tests stands at 4.26% at the time of writing. Over 32,000 deaths have been reported in the county with eight new deaths reported on June 8, and there are currently over 500 hospitalizations.

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Anime Expo started off as a relatively small fan gathering in San Jose, California in 1992 and has evolved into one of the largest North American anime-specific conventions. Over 115,000 individuals attended Anime Expo in 2019. Like many other similar events, the in-person convention was canceled for the past two years due to the global pandemic, though a virtual version of Anime Expo was streamed online in 2021.

The 2022 Anime Expo begins with its Welcome Ceremony on July 1, featuring guest introductions, musical performances and behind-the-scenes extras.

Source: Twitter, Anime Expo