The Pokémon Company announced the COVID-19 protocols for upcoming Play! Pokémon premier events on Tuesday. Registration for offline tournaments has opened in many regions for the first time in over two years.
Currently, live events are only slated to return for the Video Game Championship (VGC) and Trading Card Game (TCG). The Pokémon Company previously confirmed that its new Pokémon UNITE circuit would run qualifiers entirely online through monthly open tournaments. However, the company has not announced when Pokkén Tournament DX of Pokémon GO will return to offline events.
Players who adhere to the new COVID-19 protocols will be able to attend in-person Pokémon tournaments and earn points toward qualifying for the 2022 Pokémon World Championships. After an absence since 2019, the Pokémon World Championships will return for each game this August in London, England.
Today we start the journey back to Worlds with the release of the @pokemon premier event Covid-19 precautions & opening of reg for the first events in 2 years. Lots of work from a ton of people behind the scenes globally to put this together. https://t.co/GPoyW7SuPy pic.twitter.com/Thct5NPBpU
— Chris Brown (@4Chris_Brown) February 15, 2022
More about COVID-19 protocols at Pokémon events
Players, staff and other attendees at upcoming Pokémon premier events will have to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Additionally, all adult participants eligible for a booster shot must show proof that they have received one. However, entrants between the ages of 12 and 17 do not need to have a booster shot. Children under the age of 12 can also attend with only one vaccine dose if they received it within six months of the beginning of the event.
Along with the vaccine requirements, all attendees will have to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the beginning of the event. The tournament organizers will accept one polymerase chain reaction test or two antigen tests.
Any attendee who displays symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave the Pokémon tournament, along with any roommates, guardians or minors that accompanied them. Additionally, the new protocols require all events to have a certified COVID officer (CCO) and licensed healthcare professional on site.
The new COVID-19 protocols for upcoming tournaments also include regulations for eating and drinking, mask requirements and new check-in procedures. A more in-depth description of the Play! Pokémon COVID-19 policy is available online.
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