Shapiro Defends CES 2022 Health, Safety Measures as ‘Precedent Setting’

COVID-19 booster shots “were not available for most Americans in the US until November and globally their availability was spotty and only in certain countries,” emailed CTA President Gary Shapiro Friday on his association’s rationale for not requiring boosters at CES 2022. He declined to be interviewed and agreed only to take written questions, and only on boosters: “In December, we encouraged boosters and flu shots but did not require either.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded eligibility for boosters to all U.S. adults Nov. 19, about seven weeks before the opening of CES 2022. “CTA made major and precedent setting decisions” on health and safety measures for CES 2022, said Shapiro. “In the summer of 2021 we announced we would require vaccines. I am unaware of any large trade show that had taken that step. We required masking. We widened aisles and took other social distancing and hygienic measures. In December, we announced we would provide free tests for attendees to use before attendees got to the show floor, during the show and prior to international travel.” Despite media reports about COVID-19 infections on the CES 2022 show floor, it’s unknown how many in-person CES 2022 participants tested positive at first-aid stations in the Las Vegas Convention Center and other show venues because the Southern Nevada Health District can’t release data without knowing the names of the licensed vendors that did the tests; CTA won’t identify the vendors, citing contractual agreements (see 2201190003). Shapiro didn't respond to our questions Friday about the rationale for canceling the fourth day of CES 2022, in a decision it attributed to COVID-19 health and safety precautions, plus when that decision was made and with how much notice to exhibitors. CTA announced the decision on New Year’s Eve afternoon, five days before CES 2022 opened.