Cardboard*Con released a statement announcing its policy on a coronavirus spreading around the world. The convention’s announcement is presented in full, below.
A new type of coronavirus called COVID-19 is currently sweeping the globe, including Atlanta, home of Cardboard*Con, raising health concerns in the boxplay community.
Rest assured that Cardboard*Con is actively monitoring the situation and will alert our fans if the time comes to shelter in your dumpsters.
While this novel coronavirus is believed to have a slightly higher mortality rate than the common influenza, it is not yet widespread and our attendees generally fall outside of the at-risk population. And so:
- Cardboard*Con 11 is happening!!
- if you bring sanitary wipes make sure they contain at least 60% alcohol (medicinal)
- wash your hands every 30 minutes and scrub them with soap and water for the length of time it takes to sing the Offishul Cardboard*Con Theemsong
- study the list of things not to touch (farther down in this press release)
- attendees are encouraged to wear as much cardboard as possible, especially to cover your head, as cardboard box costume heads are 99.9% effective at blocking sneezes and salivary particulate emissions from nerds wearing retainers.
- however if you touch the outside of your box you are vulnerable to getting the virus on your hands and spreading it to your mouth. Consider a design that hermetically seals you inside of your box, or continuously apply sanitizing gel to your exposed flesh.
- functional phasers are not allowed at con (sorry), however temporal thermometers are allowed and may come in handy. Consider the following models:
26 Things Not to Touch
The same cautions that apply to other large conventions (like PiratePalooza and Dragon Con) apply to Cardboard*Con. Print out this list of “26 things to avoid touching” at con this year and tape it to your costume.
CDC Guidelines for Prevention of COVID-19
We encourage all attendees of Cardboard*Con to exercise the following set of guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control here in Atlanta, which may act to reduce your chances of contracting common strains of influenza as well as the novel coronavirus:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well 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).
- 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, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.