PLEASE NOTE—We will have an updated COVID Policy for Super MAGFest 2023 coming soon. For the time being, you may still review last year’s COVID policy.

covid Policy for Super MAGFest 2022

In order to provide a safer environment for our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, MAGFest, Inc. is implementing the following health & safety policies at Super MAGFest 2022. As part of the process for reserving your badge, you will need to confirm that you understand and agree to abide by these policies on-site, including our vaccination & masking policies.

We have developed these policies in accordance with government regulations, CDC guidance, and currently available scientific data. Please note that as pandemic conditions change, we may update these policies to maximize the safety of our attendees. We will make every effort to communicate changes promptly so that you can make informed decisions about your attendance. A changelog is available at the bottom of this page.

We know this stuff is a pain; we’d all prefer it wasn’t necessary. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in helping us to return safely to live events. <3

TL;DR: any person present at Super MAGFest 2022 must be fully vaccinated, must bring proof of vaccination, and must wear a mask. For the full details, please read on!





After the Event

First things first: act as if you have definitely come into contact with COVID-19. Though we did everything we could to make the event safe, we still urge you to err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to people in your life who are immunocompromised or otherwise unable to be vaccinated (e.g. relatives who are under 5 or elderly).

  • Continue to wear a mask in public indoor settings.

  • Schedule a PCR test if you haven’t already done so.

  • If you test positive, fill out our COVID-positive self-reporting form.

  • Continue using the contact-tracing app you used at-event for at least 10 days (leave it active and do not switch to another contact-tracing app).

We feel very lucky to have been able to have a MAGFest at all, and we’re grateful to all of you for helping us make it possible.

We’ve already had attendees and staff fill out our self-reporting form, which we strongly encourage anyone with a COVID-positive result or symptoms to do so.

As of Saturday, January 23 at 10pm, we’ve had 262 positive cases reported out of 10,581 checked-in badges.

  • By date of test:

    • 23 tested positive before the end of the event. We made every effort to respond to these in realtime, especially where they involved known groups like our staff, exhibitors, vendors, etc.

    • 45 tested positive on Monday 1/10/22

    • 52 tested positive on Tuesday 1/11/22

    • 58 tested positive on Wednesday 1/12/22

    • 41 tested positive on Thursday 1/13/22

    • 18 tested positive on Friday 1/14/22

    • 13 tested positive on Saturday, 1/15/22

    • 1 tested positive on Sunday, 1/16/22

    • 7 tested positive on Monday, 1/17/22

    • 3 tested positive on Tuesday, 1/18/22

    • 1 tested positive on Wednesday, 1/19/22

  • 227 were symptomatic; 35 were asymptomatic.

  • 150 were fully boosted; 18 were boosted but within 2 weeks of their shot; 94 were not boosted.

  • 76 used a contact tracing app; 186 did not.

While we won’t break down every positive case, we’ve summarized some notable events at which COVID-positive people were in attendance on our COVID Reporting page. Feel free to check it out if you’re concerned!

Please note that even if we had 100% accurate information, 100% promptly, there are still cases that will go undiagnosed or unreported. So exercise caution and please follow the guidelines in the previous section. We know we can count on you!

At The Event

  • It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you download and enable Maryland’s Contact Tracing App: MD COVID Alert. This will help tracking and tracing immensely for any positive cases.

  • If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 while at the event, please self-isolate. If at all possible, get a rapid test.

  • If you test positive while at the event or within 10 days of the event:

    • If you are at the event, please make the necessary arrangements to go home safely.

    • Please report your test results to us using the following form: https://bit.ly/MAG22COVID.

    • Please use the MD COVID Alert app to report your positive result so that others can be notified as well.

Before You Arrive

  • Dig out and bring your vaccination proof, and make sure it meets our policies!

  • Stock up on masks and hand sanitizer—and maybe a rapid test or two, just in case.

  • Schedule a lab COVID test before AND after the event. (It’s not required, but it might help.)

  • Download and/or enable Maryland's contact tracing app, MD COVID Alert.

  • Bookmark magfest.org/covid — any at-event updates will appear here, as well as a form to self-report a positive test. We'll also share updates on our Twitter.

  • Wind musicians: buy & bring a bell cover for your instrument!

What you can expect from us

  • We’re serious about checking vaccination proof. Make sure you bring the required documentation to our reg desk.

  • We’re serious about enforcing masking, as are our hosts at the Gaylord. Help create a culture of responsible mask use by wearing yours properly and reminding others to do so.

  • Hours and programming in some spaces may be reduced or subject to change to accommodate distancing, air circulation, and sanitization—please check Guidebook or our digital signage for up-to-date info.

  • The Gaylord also recently upgraded their air filters in public spaces to MERV 13 filters, which means air circulates and filters every 30 minutes. Woo!

  • We will be monitoring public spaces for unbadged individuals and "lobby-conners." If you do not have a badge, do not come to MAGFest. If you see someone hanging around without a badge, please inform our security team or the Gaylord.


Vaccination Requirements

All attendees at Super MAGFest 2022 (including minors, volunteers, staff, guests, contractors, and vendors) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You will therefore be required to show proof of vaccination in order to pick up your badge on-site. MAGFest will not store information about your vaccination status; a visual check of your documentation will be completed by our registration staff. 

Acceptable vaccination documentation includes: 

  • an original physical vaccination card (no photos or copies), or

  • a digital vaccination record issued by a government body, healthcare provider, or authorized COVID-19 vaccine administrator, either displayed on your smart device or printed out (such as MyIR, ShowMeVax, or IIS), or

  • a third-party app that validates your vaccination record with a government body, healthcare provider, or authorized COVID-19 vaccine administrator (such as the SMART Health Card or Common Pass—the free/self-reported versions of apps like CLEAR and AZOVA are NOT acceptable).

While photographs/photocopies of vaccination cards or self-reported apps may be useful supplementary proof, they will not be accepted as primary proof at registration—please plan to bring one of the three options listed above. Regrettably, if you cannot produce an acceptable form of vaccination documentation when you register on-site, you will not be permitted to pick up your badge. If you have any concerns about whether your proof of vaccination meets the above criteria, please email regsupport@magfest.org BEFORE the event so that we can better support you.

Your vaccination documentation MUST clearly demonstrate that the document presented belongs to you, meaning it must match the name and date of birth on the government-issued photo identification that you use to pick up your badge. If you have legally changed your name since your vaccination, or are in the process of doing so, please also bring proof of your name change. More information on our standard photo ID policy is available on our FAQ.

Your vaccination documentation MUST ALSO clearly demonstrate that you are fully vaccinated according to the current CDC definition, meaning it must show your vaccination type and date(s) so that our registration staff can confirm that you have received your second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or your first dose of a single-dose vaccine, at least 14 days before arriving on-site at the event. This means that for most attendees, your final vaccination must be on or before December 22, 2021. For staff, contractors, and others arriving on-site before Thursday, January 6, 2022, your final vaccination must be on or before December 18, 2021. We will accept all COVID-19 vaccines that have received Emergency Use Authorization or full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

If booster shots are recommended for your demographic by the CDC and are available in your area in time for the event, we highly encourage you to get a booster, too--this can help keep us all safer! Due to uncertainty in booster availability, however, we only foresee requiring the first vaccine series.

Again, if you have any concerns about whether your proof of vaccination meets the above criteria, please email regsupport@magfest.org BEFORE the event so that we can better support you (for example, if you have a non-standard vaccine card, an international vaccine card, a third-party digital vaccine passport, etc.). Please do not send us physical or digital copies of your vaccination documentation. Any documentation we receive before the event will be immediately destroyed in accordance with data privacy laws.

We will not accept negative COVID tests in lieu of vaccination documentation for individuals who are able to be vaccinated. Please contact accessibility@magfest.org if you require an exemption for medical reasons. For all other questions regarding exemptions, please contact regsupport@magfest.org. As a reminder, falsifying government records is a criminal offense, and as our Code of Conduct helpfully clarifies, we have both a civic and a moral responsibility to report any such activities to the appropriate authorities.

As of November 1, 2021, badge sales are now open to individuals ages 5 and up. All attendees, including children, must be vaccinated in accordance with the policies listed above.

A special note for parents/guardians of children not yet old enough to be vaccinated

Please know that you and your family are enormously important to us and we have struggled deeply with this policy. Unfortunately, we have decided that children under the age of 5 will not be permitted to attend Super 2022 since it is unlikely they will be able to be vaccinated in time for the event. If you purchased a badge hoping to attend with children under the age of 5 and you do not wish to attend anymore, please contact regsupport@magfest.org and we will work with you to refund your badge. If you booked a hotel room via our housing partner, Maritz (formerly Experient), please check your confirmation email for information on how to cancel your reservation. After December 15, 2021, you will need to contact your hotel directly to cancel your reservation.


Masking Requirements

Acceptable face coverings must be worn properly at all times in any MAGFest event space (yes, even if you are vaccinated, which you also have to be to attend). Let’s break that down a little:

Acceptable face coverings:

  • Are entirely made of tightly woven material (mesh masks, damaged masks, or masks with ventilation valves, including powered respirators, are NOT acceptable unless paired with another mask that meets the requirements).

  • Have 2+ layers of material (gaiters are NOT acceptable--although we know the CDC permits gaiters with 2+ layers, it’s difficult for our staff to distinguish this at a glance, so we will not be permitting them).

  • Fit snugly around the sides of your face, above your nose, and under your chin (bandanas or face shields are NOT acceptable unless paired with another mask that meets the requirements).

Must be worn properly:

  • Fully covering your nose and mouth (wearing your mask under your nose, dangling from your ear, etc. is NOT acceptable).

At all times:

  • Ok, ok, we’re being a little hyperbolic--you can take your face covering off to eat or drink. But please only do this while you are actively eating or drinking (carrying food or drink around does not count). We also ask that you stand still or sit to eat or drink, and that you limit eating and drinking to designated areas whenever possible. As a reminder, eating is not permitted in most of our event spaces, particularly the expo halls, and only non-alcoholic drinks in closed containers are permitted.

  • Guests, performers, panelists, and ASL interpreters may also remove their face coverings only while carrying out their duties, provided they maintain at least 6’ of space between themselves and anyone not in their party.

    • Attendee musicians, please see the special note below for our masking policy while playing.

  • Otherwise, face coverings must be worn at all times, even during activities that require high physical activity (e.g. rhythm games, LARPing).

  • When in cosplay, face coverings are still required and must be visible to our staff. Any face or head covering that does not meet the requirements above cannot be worn unless it is paired with one that does. Cosplayers, we love you all, but we want you to be safe! We encourage you to incorporate face coverings into your designs, and we ask that you plan any unmasked photo shoots outdoors.

In any MAGFest event space:

  • This includes the entire convention center area, including hallways.

  • It also includes MAGFest-managed areas in the hotel (e.g. Belvedere Lobby Bar, POSE Lounge, panel rooms & queuing areas, security) as well as high-traffic areas in the hotel (the atrium, the gazebo, elevators & escalators).

  • Attendees are also expected to follow venue policies with respect to face coverings. At present, these do not exceed our own.

Attendees should provide their own face coverings for the duration of the event. However, we will have limited disposable masks available for people who forget theirs or who need to change them out in a pinch. We will also have MAG-branded reusable masks available for purchase at our merch booth!

When in doubt, please listen to MAGFest staff. It is always in our Code of Conduct that we expect all attendees to cooperate fully with our staff, hotel staff, and any local security or law enforcement personnel. If you feel compelled to give us sass about your mask, you should be aware that the consequences may include revocation of your badge without refund, removal from the premises, and/or an attendance ban from future MAGFest events.

A special note for Attendee Musicians

In many of our music spaces, there is not room for true social distancing. For our Jam Clinic, Jamspace, Belvedere Lobby Bar, POSE Lounge, and hallway jampod spaces:

  • Wind instrument players must purchase and bring a bell cover for their instrument in order to reduce aerosol spread. While there may be bell covers on hand to borrow from other musicians, we cannot guarantee it and we will not permit you to play without one, so we highly recommend purchasing one ahead of time. We will not require musician's masks to be worn while playing, but please wear your regular mask while not playing, where feasible.

  • Vocalists must remain masked and maintain 6' of distance from others while performing in the above-listed areas, unless they are formally booked by a MAGFest department.

  • Side stages in enclosed areas may have modified hours and/or more time between scheduled events in order to allow spaces to be aired out and sanitized where appropriate.

Increased Sanitation

Although it is each person’s individual responsibility to maintain their own hygiene, we will be increasing sanitation based on CDC, government, and industry best practices throughout the event space, especially in high-touch areas such as the consoles and arcade halls. We highly, highly recommend that attendees bring their own hand sanitizer, and as mentioned above attendees are expected to provide their own face coverings, but we will also have spare supplies available in limited quantities as needed.

Many event spaces will have modified hours and/or more time between scheduled events in order to allow spaces to be aired out and sanitized where appropriate.

Please be aware that specific event spaces may request or require additional sanitation precautions from you as a condition of your participation--for instance, you may be asked to clean off a machine after using it. We will also have sanitation supplies available if and where this is the case!

Social Distancing

We do not plan to reduce our attendance capacity at Super MAGFest 2022 unless the venue itself or local, state, or federal mandates require a reduction. This means that true social distancing will not be possible in many areas, especially hallways and elevators. Please plan your attendance according to your own comfort level and your own personal health & safety needs. Some event spaces will have modified layouts to allow for greater distance between attendees where possible. We will also have additional traffic flow controls, directional signage, and line management procedures in order to mitigate crowding and blockages. Please assist us in our efforts by being mindful of not congregating in hallways and by cooperating promptly with MAGFest staff if you are asked to move along.

We highly, highly recommend that you download Maryland’s contact tracing app and enable it while on-site at the event (in addition to any other contact tracing services you may have. This will help the entire community if an exposure occurs at the festival. More information about the app is available on Maryland’s CovidLink website.

MAGFest is implementing all of the above policies in order to ensure the protection of everyone attending the event. We will continuously monitor pandemic conditions in order to adapt and communicate with our community accordingly. If the venue itself, or if local, state, or federal mandates require a reduction in capacity, we will immediately cease badge sales and begin refunding badges as necessary, minus required fees from our payment processors. In the event of a drastic change in capacity due to the pandemic, this will help MAG hang on another year--we appreciate your understanding!

COVID Refund Policy

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or are alerted of exposure to a confirmed case in the 10 days preceding the event, we ask that you stay home unless you receive a negative PCR test result before your arrival. We’re not able to police this, obviously, so we really need your help in keeping the community safe! If you receive a positive test result yourself in the 10 days preceding the event, we ask that you PLEASE stay home, both for your own safety and for the safety of others. We typically do not offer refunds on badges, but we may be able to make exceptions in extenuating circumstances such as these. If you would like to request a refund for reasons related to COVID-19, please contact regsupport@magfest.org no later than January 9, 2022 (the last day of the event).

Additionally, we’re working on leveling up our virtual content to accommodate folks who cannot attend in person for any reason--keep an eye on our social media accounts for more updates as the fall progresses!





Additional Resources & Background

Where to get a vaccine in:

OUR ATTENDEE COVID SURVEY RESULTS:

We put out an attendee COVID survey over the summer. Below are some of the most pertinent results!

  • We had 3,731 total responses (about 1/6 of our normal attendee numbers for Super).

  • A resounding 92% of respondents were already fully vaccinated or planned to be vaccinated by the time of the event in January.

  • A strong majority of respondents supported a vaccination requirement:

    • 2907 people (78%) indicated they were more likely to attend or required such a policy to attend.

    • 442 people (12%) were neutral.

    • 382 people (10%) indicated they were less likely to attend or would not attend if such a policy was implemented.

  • People were generally softer on a mask requirement:

    • 2099 people (56%) were more likely to attend or required such a policy to attend.

    • 1006 people (27%) were neutral.

    • 626 people (17%) were less likely to attend/would not attend.

We took your responses very seriously when determining our policies and we appreciate your honest feedback. We knew we weren’t going to make everyone happy--that was tough for us. But we hope these policies allow us all to return to doing what we love, as safely and inclusively as possible. If you can’t make the event this year, we hope you can join us again in the future.

CHANGELOG

  • February 1, 2022:

    • Added Creative Commons Licensing information (below)

  • January 23, 2022:

    • Updated numbers in After the Event

  • January 14, 2022:

    • Updated numbers in After the Event

  • January 12, 2022:

    • Added section:

      • After the Event (including COVID Positive Case Reports)

  • January 5, 2022:

    • Added sections:

      • Before You Arrive

      • What You Can Expect From Us

      • At the Event

    • Added table of contents/jump menu for faster access to information

  • December 23, 2021:

    • Clarified acceptable proof of vaccination, including removing the QR code requirement (since not all official records include these) and providing additional guidance on third-party digital apps.

    • Added guidelines for attendee musicians under the Masking Requirements section.

    • Updated recommended quarantine period from 14 days to 10 days in the COVID Refund Policy section per CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals who test positive.

  • November 8, 2021:

    • Announced opening of badge sales to children ages 5-11 following FDA authorization of vaccines for that age group.

    • Clarified that children under the age of 5 would not be permitted to attend Super 2022.

    • Added attendee COVID survey results to the Additional Resources & Background section.