Difference between revisions of "Covid-19"

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The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic is forcing conventions to cancel across the globe from Mid-March 2020 onwards. [[Concentric]] ([[Eastercon]]), [[Fantastika 2020]] ([[Swecon]]), [[Minicon 55]], [[Norwescon 43]] and [[Swancon 2020]] the [[Australian Natcon]] have cancelled. [[Mike Lowrey]] cancelled his [[TAFF]] trip.
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The '''COVID-19 pandemic''' has had the most profound effect on [[fandom]] of any [[mainstream]] event since [[World War II]].  
  
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[[CoNZealand]], the 2020 [[Worldcon]] decided, with less than 4 months notice, to hold a virtual Worldcon, the first of its kind.
 
  
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{{fanhistory | year=2020}}
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==Known Deaths==
 +
COVID-19 killed over a dozen [[fans]], beginning with [[Brian Varley]] on March 31, 2020:
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<tab class="sortable" head=top style="border: 1ex solid black;margin:auto;">
 +
Name || From  || Date of death
 +
'''[[Karen Babcock]]''' || [[Bellevue, WA|Bellevue]], [[Washington State|Washington]]|| October 21, 2020
 +
'''[[John Bangsund]]''' || [[Melbourne]], NSW, [[Australia]] || August 22, 2020
 +
'''[[Tom Barber]]''' || [[Ann Arbor]], [[Michigan]] || April 4, 2020
 +
'''[[Ben Bova]]''' || Naples, [[Florida]] || November 29, 2020
 +
'''[[Sergey Bulyga]]'''|| Belarus|| October 24, 2021
 +
'''[[Glenn Chambers]]''' || [[Toledo]], [[Ohio]] || July 19, 2020
 +
'''[[Jiří Engliš]]'''|| Czechia || March 9, 2021
 +
'''[[Greg Eide]]''' || [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]] || May 20, 2021
 +
'''[[Al Fitzpatrick]]''' || [[New Jersey]] || April 6, 2020
 +
'''[[Jaroslav Mostecký]]''' || Czechia || December 13, 2020
 +
'''[[Jomil Mulvey]]''' || [[San Diego]], [[California]]|| July 11, 2020
 +
'''[[Darroll Pardoe]]'''||[[Birmingham, UK]]||January 28, 2021
 +
'''[[John Sardegna]]''' || [[New York, NY]] || April 2020
 +
'''[[Sylvain St-Pierre]]'''||[[Montreal]], QC, [[Canada]]||March 25, 2021
 +
'''[[Brian Varley]]''' || Pedmore, Stourbridge, [[U.K.]]|| March 31, 2020
 +
'''[[Richard C. West]]''' || [[Madison, WI]] || November 29, 2020
 +
'''[[Doug Wilken]]'''|| Foley, [[Minnesota]] ||January 28, 2022
 +
</tab>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Others Affected==
 +
Fans who were badly stricken with the Covid-19 include [[Amy L. Woolard]] of [[Chicago]], hospitalized for many months, and [[Susan Chambers]], Glenn’s wife. [[Author]] [[David Weber]] was hospitalized in January 2021, and [[John Varley]] in September.
 +
 
 +
[[Author]] [[Neil Gaiman]] with his wife and son were stranded in [[New Zealand]] in March 2020 when lockdowns started. (He then attracted much criticism by travelling to his Scottish house in May, as the couple broadcast their breakup over social media.)
 +
 
 +
Covid-related shutdowns forced [[conventions]] across the globe from mid-March 2020 onwards to cancel, postpone or later switch to online events. [[Corflu Heatwave]], held March 13–15, in College Station, [[Texas]], may have been the last “live” con of 2020. In response to all the cancellations, on March 12, 2020, some fans started a "virtual" con group on [[Facebook]] called [[Concellation]] 2020 (later Concellation 2021, 2022, [[ktp]]).
 +
 
 +
The [[Columbus 2020 NASFiC]]’s initial [https://web.archive.org/web/20200527113656/https://columbus2020nasfic.org/ cancellation announcement], saying they weren’t planning to issue [[refunds]] but to print a [[souvenir book]] instead, [[All Fandom Was Plunged Into War|provoked a lot of fannish ire]]. The [[Nice in 2023]] [[Worldcon]] [[bid]] folded, and [[Memphis in 2023]] withdrew, both blaming the pandemic.
 +
 
 +
[[CoNZealand]] decided with less than four months notice to hold a virtual [[Worldcon]], the first of its kind, with famously minimal in-person [[Business Meeting]]. The 2021 [[Discon III]] Worldcon postponed from August to December. The [[Ditmar Awards]] for 2020 and 2021 were presented in online ceremonies due to [[Australian Natcon]] cancellations.
 +
 
 +
Many [[club]]s ceased meetings or switched online, among them the [[London Circle]] and [[LASFS]]. LASFS, which had sold its [[clubhouse]] and was meeting in a rented church hall while seeking a new space, had not yet resumed live meetings as of March 2023. 
 +
 
 +
[[2020 TAFF Race]] winner [[Mike Lowrey]] postponed his trip until April 2022, and then caught Covid at the end of it, forcing him to delay his flight back as he self-isolated in [[London]].  The [[2021 TAFF Race]] was cancelled (that is, not announced at all or "postponed") in October 2020. [[2020 GUFF Race]] winner [[Alison Scott]] and [[2020 DUFF Race]] winner [[Erin Underwood]] participated in the virtual [[CoNZealand]], but postponed their trips indefinitely. The 2020 [[NAFF]] race was cancelled.
 +
 
 +
In-person conventions started up again in mid-2021 as vaccination spread and restrictions relaxed, but spikes of Covid cases, in particular the Omicron variant, again caused [[concoms]] to cancel, delay or move online.
 +
 
 +
== Post-Vax Fandom ==
 +
After vaccines became available, some conventions began resuming in late 2021, including the postponed [[Worldcon]], [[Discon III]], where over 30 attendees caught Covid. About 10 percent of the fans at [[Reclamation]], the 2022 [[Eastercon]], contracted the disease, among them TAFF delegate Lowrey, who spent a week in isolation before he could return home. At least 60 [[fans]] caught Covid during the 2022 Worldcon, [[Chicon 8]].
 +
 
 +
Many resumed conventions were much smaller than in previous years, due to fans’ reluctance to travel and deal with crowds. A number of cons were not held again, or held once or twice and then ended due to “Covid fatigue,” and online [[programming]] has become a permanent feature for many. [[Con suites]] and [[room parties]] have been reworked, and mask and proof-of-vaccination mandates instituted. Still, there have been many “breakthrough” cases of Covid among congoers, and photos of fans’ positive at-home tests are rife on social media.
 +
 
 +
== Conventions Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic:==
 +
See [[Covid-19 Standards]].
 +
 
 +
<tab head=top>
 +
Convention || Scheduled Dates || Status
 +
Colspan = "3"|'''2020'''
 +
[[Costume-Con 38]] || March 13–16, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[ICFA 41]] || March 18–21, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Deepcon |Deepcon 21]] || March 19–22, 2020 || Postponed to <s>March 18–21, 2021</s> <s>July 15–18, 2021</s> TBD
 +
[[OutlantaCon |OutlantaCon 2020]] || March 19–22, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Cleveland ConCoction]] 2020 || March 20–22, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[Consonance|Consonance 2020]]|| March 20–22, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Fantastika 2020]] ([[Swecon]]&nbsp;23) || March 20–22, 2020 || <s>Postponed to October 23-25, 2020</s> Cancelled, memberships transferred to 2021
 +
[[GrangeCon12]] || March 20–22, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[MidSouthCon 38]] || March 20–22, 2020 || Postponed to <s>March 19-21, 2021</s> 2022
 +
[[Genericon XXXIII]] || March 21–22, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[WillyCon XXII]] || March 27–29, 2020 || Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Jack Williamson Lectureship | 44th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship]] || April 2–3, 2020 || Postponed to April 22–23, 2021, then held online
 +
[[HELIOsphere 2020]] || April 3–5, 2020 || Replaced by online [[HELIOsphere - Beyond the Corona]]
 +
[[Norwescon 43]] || April 9–12, 2020 || Postponed to April 1–4, 2021, then held online
 +
[[Conglomeration 2020]] || April 10–12, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[LepreCon 46]] || April 10–12, 2020 ||Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Minicon 55]] || April 10–12, 2020 ||Postponed to <s>April 2–4, 2021</s> April 15–17, 2022
 +
[[Concentric]] ([[Eastercon 71]]) || April 10–13, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[HAL-CON (Japan) 2020]] || April 11–12, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Olamot]] 15|| April 12-13, 2020 || Postponed to March 29–April 1, 2021, then held online 
 +
[[StokerCon UK]] || April 16–19, 2020 || Postponed to 2021
 +
[[ConStellation_(NE)_11 | ConStellation 11]] || April 17–19, 2020 ||Held online October 17, 2020
 +
[[JordanCon XII]] || April 17–19, 2020 || Replaced by [[JordanCONline]]/Postponed to <s>April 23–25, 2021</s> <s>July 16–18, 2021</s> April 22–24, 2022
 +
[[Windy City Pulp & Paper Convention 20]] || April 17–19, 2020 || Postponed to <s>September 11–13, 2020</s>  <s>April 16-18, 2021</s> September 9–12, 2021
 +
[[FilKONtario 30]] || April 24–26, 2020 ||Replaced by online [[FilKONtari-NO]]<s>/Postponed to 2021</s>
 +
[[Penguicon 2020]]|| April 24–26, 2020||Held online
 +
[[RavenCon 15]] || April 24–26, 2020 ||Postponed to <s>April 16–18, 2021</s> April 29–May 1, 2022
 +
[[Swancon 2020]] ([[Australian Natcon]]) || April 25–27, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Ad Astra 2020]] || May 1–3, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[DemiCon 31]] || May 1–3, 2020 ||Cancelled
 +
[[Rainbow Con 4]]||May 1–3, 2020||Postponed to spring 2021, then cancelled
 +
[[Marcon 55]] || May 8–10, 2020 ||Postponed to March 7–9, 2021, then held online
 +
[[SFeraKon]] || May 8–10, 2020 || Held online as "SFeraKORon"
 +
[[Keycon 2020]] || May 15–19, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[Åcon 11]] || May 21–24, 2020||Postponed to May 13–16, 2021
 +
[[Balticon 54 Virtual]] || May 22–24, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[ConQuesT 51]] || May 22–24, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Satellite 7]] || May 22–24, 2020 || Postponed to <s>Feb. 19-21, 2021</s> May 21–23, 2021
 +
[[Baycon 2020]] || May 22–25, 2020 || Postponed to <s>November 6-8, 2020</s> 2022
 +
[[KublaCon |KublaCon 2020]] || May 22–25, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[MisCon 34]] || May 22–25, 2020 || Postponed to <s>November 6-8, 2020</s> Cancelled
 +
[[WisCon 44]] || May 22–25, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[ConCarolinas 2020]] || May 29–31, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[2020 SFWA Nebula Conference]] || May 29–31, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[Continuum 16]] || June 5–8, 2020 ||Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Picnicon|Picnicon 2020]]||June 7, 2020|| Cancelled
 +
[[LibertyCon 33]] || June 12–14, 2020 ||Postponed to June 25–27, 2021, then held online
 +
[[LaffCon 5]] || June 13, 2020 ||Postponed to June 12, 2021
 +
[[ConComCon 27]]||June 19–21, 2020||Postponed to June 11–15, 2021
 +
[[Fourth Street Fantasy 2020]] || June 19–21, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Dum-Dum | Dum-Dum 2020]] || June 24–28, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Midwestcon 71]] || June 25–28, 2020 ||Postponed <s>to 2021 2022</s> indefinitely
 +
[[SoonerCon 29]] || June 26–28, 2020 ||Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Anthrocon |Anthrocon 2020]] || July 2–5, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Westercon 73]] || July 2–5, 2020 ||Postponed to July 1–4, 2021, then held online
 +
[[InConJunction XL]] || July 3–5, 2020 ||Postponed to July 2–4, 2021
 +
[[NEFilk 2020]] || July 3–5, 2020 || Replaced by online [[NEWhere 2020]]
 +
[[SFRA 2020]]||July 8–11, 2020||Cancelled
 +
[[Readercon 31]] || July 9–12, 2020 ||Postponed to July 9–11, 2021, then held online
 +
[[Shore Leave]] 42 || July 10–12, 2020 ||Replaced by online [[Shore Leave 41.5]]/Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Pyrkon]] 2020 || July 10–12, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Necon XL]]||July 16–19, 2020|| Postponed to July 15–18, 2021, then replaced by online [[Camp V-Con]]
 +
[[ConGregate 2020]]<br/>([[DeepSouthCon 58]]) || July 17–19, 2020 || ConGregate 2020 cancelled; [[DeepSouthCon 58|DSC 58]] <s>postponed to November</s> held online
 +
[[Confluence 2020]] || July 24–26, 2020 || Replaced by online [[C'monfluence]]
 +
[[Bubonicon 52]] || July 29–August 2, 2020 || Replaced by online [[Buboni-Virtual Con]]/Postponed to August 20–22, 2021
 +
[[CoNZealand]] ([[Worldcon 78]]) || July 29–August 2, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[Mythcon 51]] || July 31–August 3, 2020 ||Postponed to July 30–August 2, 2021
 +
[[PulpFest 2020]] || August 6–9, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Armadillocon 42]]||August 7–9, 2020|| Held online August 28–30, 2020
 +
[[Diversicon 28]] || August 7–9, 2020 ||Postponed to July 30–August 1, 2021
 +
[[Discworld Convention 2020]] || August 7–10, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[When Words Collide 2020]] || August 14–16, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Reunicon 2020]] || August 20–22, 2020 || <s>Postponed to August 20–22, 2021</s> Cancelled
 +
[[Nihon SF Taikai|F-Con]] ([[Japanese Natcon]])|| August 22–23, 2020||Postponed to August 27–28, 2022
 +
[[CONvergence | CONvergence 2020]] || August 20–23, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Columbus 2020 NASFiC]] || August 20–23, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[TitanCon 2020]] || August 28–30, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Redemption 2020]] || August 28–31, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Oxonmoot 2020]] || September 3–6, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Dragon Con | Dragon Con 2020]] || September 3–7, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[CoKoCon 2020]] || September 4–7, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Fantasticon 2020]] ||September 5–6, 2020|| Held online
 +
[[Albacon 2020]] || September 11–13, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[FenCon XVII]] || September 18–20, 2020 ||Postponed to 2021
 +
[[FantasyCon 2020]] || style="white-space:nowrap" | September 25–27, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Archon 44]] || October 2–4, 2020 ||Postponed to October 1–3, 2021
 +
[[Conflux 16]]<br>([[Australian Natcon]])|| October 2–4, 2020||Postponed to <s>October 1–4, 2021</s> September 30–October 3, 2022. 2020 and 2021 [[Ditmar Awards]] held online
 +
[[Decongestant 5]] ([[Fallcon]]) / [[Arcana 50]] || October 2–4, 2020|| Postponed to <s>September 24–26, 2021</s> October 7-9, 2022
 +
[[Futuricon]] ([[Eurocon]] 42) || October 2–4, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[Octocon 2020]]||October 9–11, 2020||Held online
 +
[[Valleycon 46]]||October 15–18, 2020||Cancelled
 +
[[CAN*CON 2020]]||October 16–18, 2020 || Cancelled
 +
[[Capclave 2020]]||October 16–18, 2020||Held online
 +
[[MileHiCon 52]] || October 23–25, 2020 || Held online
 +
[[OVFF 36]]||October 23–25, 2020||Replaced by online [[nOVFF]]
 +
[[Scintillation 3]]|| October 23–25, 2020|| Postponed to October 8–10, 2021
 +
[[World Fantasy Convention 2020]] || October 29 – November&nbsp;1,&nbsp;2020 || Held online
 +
[[Bristol-Con 2020]] || October 31, 2020 || Postponed to 2021
 +
[[ArmadaCon 2020]]||November 6–8, 2020||Held online on November 7
 +
[[IceCon 2020]]|| November 6–8, 2020||Cancelled
 +
[[OryCon 42]]|| November 12–14, 2020 || Replaced by online [[OR-eCon]]/Postponed to 2021
 +
[[CONtraflow X]] || November 13–15, 2020 ||Postponed to <s>October 1–3, 2021</s> October 7–9, 2022
 +
[[Novacon 50]] || November 13–15, 2020 ||Postponed to November 12–14, 2021. Several attendees contracted Covid during the con.
 +
[[Windycon 47 in 2020]] || November 13–15, 2020 || Replaced by online [[Breezycon]]/Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Philcon 2020]]||November 20–22, 2020||Held online
 +
[[Chambanacon 50]] || November 27–29, 2020||Postponed to November 26–28, 2021
 +
[[Chessiecon 2020]] || November 27–29, 2020|| Held online
 +
[[Loscon 47]] || November 27–29, 2020 ||Postponed to 2021
 +
[[Smofcon 38]]|| December 4–6, 2020||Replaced by online [[Smofcon 37 1/4]]/Postponed to 2021
 +
 
 +
Colspan="3" | '''2021'''
 +
[[GAFilk 2021]] || January 8–10, 2021 || Cancelled
 +
style="white-space:nowrap"| [[Rising ConFusion]] (MI) || January 15–17, 2021 || Postponed to January 21–23, 2022
 +
[[MarsCon (VA)| MarsCon 2021]] (VA)|| January 15–17, 2021 || Cancelled
 +
[[Chattacon 46]]|| January 22–24, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[COSine 2021]] || January 29–21, 2021 || Cancelled
 +
[[Capricon 41]]|| February 4–7, 2021||Held online
 +
[[Long Play]] ([[British Filk Convention]]&nbsp;33) || February 5–7, 2021 || Cancelled
 +
[[Life, the Universe, & Everything 39]]||February 11–13, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[Boskone 58]] || February 12–14, 2021 || Held online
 +
[[RadCon 8A]]|| February 12–14, 2021 || Held online
 +
[[Picocon 38]]||February 20, 2021 || Held online
 +
[[Concave 42]] ||February 25–28, 2021|| Online events substituted in 2021–22 / postponed to February 23–26, 2023
 +
[[Mysticon]] 2021||February 2021||Cancelled
 +
[[Coastcon 44]]||March 3–5, 2021||Postponed to March 4–6, 2022
 +
[[MarsCon (MN) 2021]] (MN)||March 12–14, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[Eurocon 2021]] || March 18–21, 2021 || Postponed to July 15–18, 2021
 +
[[OutlantaCon|OutlantaCon 2021]]||March 18–21, 2021||Postponed to March 2022
 +
[[ICFA 42]]||March 18–21, 2021 || Held online
 +
[[FantaSci]] 2021 ||March 19–21, 2021 || Postponed to May 21–23, 2021
 +
[[LepreCon 47 Virtual Con|LepreCon 47]]||March 19–21, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[FilKONtario 31]]|| March 19–21, 2021|| Replaced by online [[FilKONtari-NO 2]]
 +
[[Corflu 38]] || March 26–28, 2021 || Postponed to November 3–5, 2021, except online [[FAAn Awards]]
 +
[[Eastercon 2021|Eastercon 72]] (ConFusion)|| April 2–5, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[Fantastika 2021]] ([[Swecon]]&nbsp;23) || April 9–11, 2021 || Postponed to November 19–21, 2021
 +
[[HELIOsphere 2021]]|| April 9–11, 2021||Replaced by online [[Beyond the Corona]]
 +
[[KONgres 2021]]||April 10–11, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[Costume-Con 39]]|| April 23–25, 2021||Postponed to April 21–24, 2023
 +
[[Penguicon 2021]]|| April 23–25, 2021||Held online
 +
[[Marcon 56]] || May 7–9, 2021|| Postponed to September 3-5, 2021
 +
[[Keycon 38]]||May 21–23, 2021||Held online
 +
[[Balticon 55]]||May 28-31, 2021||Held online
 +
[[MisCon 35]]||May 28–31, 2021||Cancelled
 +
[[WisCon 45]]||May 28–31, 2021|| Postponed to May 27–30, 2022
 +
[[Fourth Street Fantasy 2021]] || June 17–20, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[Westercon 74]]||July 1–4, 2021 || Postponed to July 1–4, 2022
 +
[[Nullus Anxietas 7a]] ||July 2–4, 2021||Postponed to April 8–10, 2022, then cancelled
 +
[[Readercon 31]]||July 9–11, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[DisCon III]] (Worldcon) || August 25–29, 2021 || Postponed to December 15–19 in April after Dec. '20 membership poll preferring it to virtual earlier. Virtual memberships and some program offered; about 31 attendees caught Covid, "cluster event" at [[WSFS Business Meeting]]
 +
[[Albacon 2021]] || September 17–19, 2021 || Held online
 +
[[Capclave 2021]]|| October 1–3, 2021 || About 1/3rd smaller than usual
 +
[[CAN*CON 2021]] || October 14–16, 2021|| Held online
 +
[[World Fantasy Convention 2021]]|| November 4–7, 2021|| Held as a “hybrid” online/live con. One attendee contracted Covid
 +
[[Windycon 47 in 2021]]|| November 12–14, 2021|| Scheduled to be online but then held in person
 +
[[Chessiecon 2021]] || November 26–28, 2021|| Held online
 +
 
 +
Colspan="3"|'''2022'''
 +
[[Arisia 2022]]||January 14–16, 2022||Cancelled. An “online gathering” held.
 +
[[MarsCon (VA)]] 2022 (VA)||January 14–16, 2022|| Postponed to March 18–20, 2022
 +
[[Redemption 2022]]|| February 18–20, 2022|| Postponed to 2023, then cancelled
 +
[[MystiCon]] 2022||February 25–27, 2022 || Cancelled
 +
[[Picocon 39]]||March 5, 2022 ||Held online.
 +
[[Corflu 39]]|| March 18–20, 2022||Postponed to October 21–23, 2022
 +
[[Chicon 8]] ([[Worldcon]])||September 1–5, 2022||Held as scheduled but with lower than expected attendance and at least 60 cases of Covid. Virtual memberships and some program offered
 +
[[Orycon 43]] || November 4–6, 2022|| Replaced by online [[Or-E-Con 2]] / postponed to November 10–12, 2023
 +
[[Chessiecon 2022]] || November 25–27, 2022 || Held as scheduled but didn’t make [[room block]], resulting in $11K deficit and cancellation of 2023 con
 +
 
 +
Colspan="3"|'''2023'''
 +
[[Redemption 2022|Redemption 2023]]|| February 24–26, 2023|| Cancelled
 +
[[Costume-Con 41]]|| April 21–24, 2023||Replaced by [[Costume-Con 39]]
 +
[[Keycon 40]] || May 19-21, 2023 || Postponed to May 17–19, 2024
 +
[[Chessiecon]] 2023||November 24–26, 2023|| Cancelled
 +
 
 +
Colspan="3"|'''2024'''
 +
[[Norwescon 46]]||March 28–31, 2024|| [[GoH]] [[Jim Butcher]] absent due to contracting Covid
 +
[[WisCon]] 47||May 24–27, 2024|| Postponed indefinitely
 +
</tab>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{fanhistory | start=2020}}
 +
[[Category:Covid-19]]
 +
[[Category:World]]
 +
[[Category:list]]

Latest revision as of 10:00, 31 March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had the most profound effect on fandom of any mainstream event since World War II.


Known Deaths[edit]

COVID-19 killed over a dozen fans, beginning with Brian Varley on March 31, 2020:


Name From Date of death
Karen Babcock Bellevue, Washington October 21, 2020
John Bangsund Melbourne, NSW, Australia August 22, 2020
Tom Barber Ann Arbor, Michigan April 4, 2020
Ben Bova Naples, Florida November 29, 2020
Sergey Bulyga Belarus October 24, 2021
Glenn Chambers Toledo, Ohio July 19, 2020
Jiří Engliš Czechia March 9, 2021
Greg Eide Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 20, 2021
Al Fitzpatrick New Jersey April 6, 2020
Jaroslav Mostecký Czechia December 13, 2020
Jomil Mulvey San Diego, California July 11, 2020
Darroll Pardoe Birmingham, UK January 28, 2021
John Sardegna New York, NY April 2020
Sylvain St-Pierre Montreal, QC, Canada March 25, 2021
Brian Varley Pedmore, Stourbridge, U.K. March 31, 2020
Richard C. West Madison, WI November 29, 2020
Doug Wilken Foley, Minnesota January 28, 2022


Others Affected[edit]

Fans who were badly stricken with the Covid-19 include Amy L. Woolard of Chicago, hospitalized for many months, and Susan Chambers, Glenn’s wife. Author David Weber was hospitalized in January 2021, and John Varley in September.

Author Neil Gaiman with his wife and son were stranded in New Zealand in March 2020 when lockdowns started. (He then attracted much criticism by travelling to his Scottish house in May, as the couple broadcast their breakup over social media.)

Covid-related shutdowns forced conventions across the globe from mid-March 2020 onwards to cancel, postpone or later switch to online events. Corflu Heatwave, held March 13–15, in College Station, Texas, may have been the last “live” con of 2020. In response to all the cancellations, on March 12, 2020, some fans started a "virtual" con group on Facebook called Concellation 2020 (later Concellation 2021, 2022, ktp).

The Columbus 2020 NASFiC’s initial cancellation announcement, saying they weren’t planning to issue refunds but to print a souvenir book instead, provoked a lot of fannish ire. The Nice in 2023 Worldcon bid folded, and Memphis in 2023 withdrew, both blaming the pandemic.

CoNZealand decided with less than four months notice to hold a virtual Worldcon, the first of its kind, with famously minimal in-person Business Meeting. The 2021 Discon III Worldcon postponed from August to December. The Ditmar Awards for 2020 and 2021 were presented in online ceremonies due to Australian Natcon cancellations.

Many clubs ceased meetings or switched online, among them the London Circle and LASFS. LASFS, which had sold its clubhouse and was meeting in a rented church hall while seeking a new space, had not yet resumed live meetings as of March 2023.

2020 TAFF Race winner Mike Lowrey postponed his trip until April 2022, and then caught Covid at the end of it, forcing him to delay his flight back as he self-isolated in London. The 2021 TAFF Race was cancelled (that is, not announced at all or "postponed") in October 2020. 2020 GUFF Race winner Alison Scott and 2020 DUFF Race winner Erin Underwood participated in the virtual CoNZealand, but postponed their trips indefinitely. The 2020 NAFF race was cancelled.

In-person conventions started up again in mid-2021 as vaccination spread and restrictions relaxed, but spikes of Covid cases, in particular the Omicron variant, again caused concoms to cancel, delay or move online.

Post-Vax Fandom[edit]

After vaccines became available, some conventions began resuming in late 2021, including the postponed Worldcon, Discon III, where over 30 attendees caught Covid. About 10 percent of the fans at Reclamation, the 2022 Eastercon, contracted the disease, among them TAFF delegate Lowrey, who spent a week in isolation before he could return home. At least 60 fans caught Covid during the 2022 Worldcon, Chicon 8.

Many resumed conventions were much smaller than in previous years, due to fans’ reluctance to travel and deal with crowds. A number of cons were not held again, or held once or twice and then ended due to “Covid fatigue,” and online programming has become a permanent feature for many. Con suites and room parties have been reworked, and mask and proof-of-vaccination mandates instituted. Still, there have been many “breakthrough” cases of Covid among congoers, and photos of fans’ positive at-home tests are rife on social media.

Conventions Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic:[edit]

See Covid-19 Standards.

Convention Scheduled Dates Status
2020
Costume-Con 38 March 13–16, 2020 Cancelled
ICFA 41 March 18–21, 2020 Cancelled
Deepcon 21 March 19–22, 2020 Postponed to March 18–21, 2021 July 15–18, 2021 TBD
OutlantaCon 2020 March 19–22, 2020 Cancelled
Cleveland ConCoction 2020 March 20–22, 2020 Held online
Consonance 2020 March 20–22, 2020 Cancelled
Fantastika 2020 (Swecon 23) March 20–22, 2020 Postponed to October 23-25, 2020 Cancelled, memberships transferred to 2021
GrangeCon12 March 20–22, 2020 Cancelled
MidSouthCon 38 March 20–22, 2020 Postponed to March 19-21, 2021 2022
Genericon XXXIII March 21–22, 2020 Cancelled
WillyCon XXII March 27–29, 2020 Postponed to 2021
44th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship April 2–3, 2020 Postponed to April 22–23, 2021, then held online
HELIOsphere 2020 April 3–5, 2020 Replaced by online HELIOsphere - Beyond the Corona
Norwescon 43 April 9–12, 2020 Postponed to April 1–4, 2021, then held online
Conglomeration 2020 April 10–12, 2020 Cancelled
LepreCon 46 April 10–12, 2020 Postponed to 2021
Minicon 55 April 10–12, 2020 Postponed to April 2–4, 2021 April 15–17, 2022
Concentric (Eastercon 71) April 10–13, 2020 Cancelled
HAL-CON 2020 April 11–12, 2020 Cancelled
Olamot 15 April 12-13, 2020 Postponed to March 29–April 1, 2021, then held online
StokerCon UK April 16–19, 2020 Postponed to 2021
ConStellation 11 April 17–19, 2020 Held online October 17, 2020
JordanCon XII April 17–19, 2020 Replaced by JordanCONline/Postponed to April 23–25, 2021 July 16–18, 2021 April 22–24, 2022
Windy City Pulp & Paper Convention 20 April 17–19, 2020 Postponed to September 11–13, 2020 April 16-18, 2021 September 9–12, 2021
FilKONtario 30 April 24–26, 2020 Replaced by online FilKONtari-NO/Postponed to 2021
Penguicon 2020 April 24–26, 2020 Held online
RavenCon 15 April 24–26, 2020 Postponed to April 16–18, 2021 April 29–May 1, 2022
Swancon 2020 (Australian Natcon) April 25–27, 2020 Cancelled
Ad Astra 2020 May 1–3, 2020 Cancelled
DemiCon 31 May 1–3, 2020 Cancelled
Rainbow Con 4 May 1–3, 2020 Postponed to spring 2021, then cancelled
Marcon 55 May 8–10, 2020 Postponed to March 7–9, 2021, then held online
SFeraKon May 8–10, 2020 Held online as "SFeraKORon"
Keycon 2020 May 15–19, 2020 Held online
Åcon 11 May 21–24, 2020 Postponed to May 13–16, 2021
Balticon 54 Virtual May 22–24, 2020 Held online
ConQuesT 51 May 22–24, 2020 Cancelled
Satellite 7 May 22–24, 2020 Postponed to Feb. 19-21, 2021 May 21–23, 2021
Baycon 2020 May 22–25, 2020 Postponed to November 6-8, 2020 2022
KublaCon 2020 May 22–25, 2020 Cancelled
MisCon 34 May 22–25, 2020 Postponed to November 6-8, 2020 Cancelled
WisCon 44 May 22–25, 2020 Held online
ConCarolinas 2020 May 29–31, 2020 Held online
2020 SFWA Nebula Conference May 29–31, 2020 Held online
Continuum 16 June 5–8, 2020 Postponed to 2021
Picnicon 2020 June 7, 2020 Cancelled
LibertyCon 33 June 12–14, 2020 Postponed to June 25–27, 2021, then held online
LaffCon 5 June 13, 2020 Postponed to June 12, 2021
ConComCon 27 June 19–21, 2020 Postponed to June 11–15, 2021
Fourth Street Fantasy 2020 June 19–21, 2020 Cancelled
Dum-Dum 2020 June 24–28, 2020 Cancelled
Midwestcon 71 June 25–28, 2020 Postponed to 2021 2022 indefinitely
SoonerCon 29 June 26–28, 2020 Postponed to 2021
Anthrocon 2020 July 2–5, 2020 Cancelled
Westercon 73 July 2–5, 2020 Postponed to July 1–4, 2021, then held online
InConJunction XL July 3–5, 2020 Postponed to July 2–4, 2021
NEFilk 2020 July 3–5, 2020 Replaced by online NEWhere 2020
SFRA 2020 July 8–11, 2020 Cancelled
Readercon 31 July 9–12, 2020 Postponed to July 9–11, 2021, then held online
Shore Leave 42 July 10–12, 2020 Replaced by online Shore Leave 41.5/Postponed to 2021
Pyrkon 2020 July 10–12, 2020 Cancelled
Necon XL July 16–19, 2020 Postponed to July 15–18, 2021, then replaced by online Camp V-Con
ConGregate 2020
(DeepSouthCon 58)		 July 17–19, 2020 ConGregate 2020 cancelled; DSC 58 postponed to November held online
Confluence 2020 July 24–26, 2020 Replaced by online C'monfluence
Bubonicon 52 July 29–August 2, 2020 Replaced by online Buboni-Virtual Con/Postponed to August 20–22, 2021
CoNZealand (Worldcon 78) July 29–August 2, 2020 Held online
Mythcon 51 July 31–August 3, 2020 Postponed to July 30–August 2, 2021
PulpFest 2020 August 6–9, 2020 Cancelled
Armadillocon 42 August 7–9, 2020 Held online August 28–30, 2020
Diversicon 28 August 7–9, 2020 Postponed to July 30–August 1, 2021
Discworld Convention 2020 August 7–10, 2020 Cancelled
When Words Collide 2020 August 14–16, 2020 Cancelled
Reunicon 2020 August 20–22, 2020 Postponed to August 20–22, 2021 Cancelled
F-Con (Japanese Natcon) August 22–23, 2020 Postponed to August 27–28, 2022
CONvergence 2020 August 20–23, 2020 Cancelled
Columbus 2020 NASFiC August 20–23, 2020 Held online
TitanCon 2020 August 28–30, 2020 Cancelled
Redemption 2020 August 28–31, 2020 Cancelled
Oxonmoot 2020 September 3–6, 2020 Cancelled
Dragon Con 2020 September 3–7, 2020 Held online
CoKoCon 2020 September 4–7, 2020 Cancelled
Fantasticon 2020 September 5–6, 2020 Held online
Albacon 2020 September 11–13, 2020 Cancelled
FenCon XVII September 18–20, 2020 Postponed to 2021
FantasyCon 2020 September 25–27, 2020 Cancelled
Archon 44 October 2–4, 2020 Postponed to October 1–3, 2021
Conflux 16
(Australian Natcon)		 October 2–4, 2020 Postponed to October 1–4, 2021 September 30–October 3, 2022. 2020 and 2021 Ditmar Awards held online
Decongestant 5 (Fallcon) / Arcana 50 October 2–4, 2020 Postponed to September 24–26, 2021 October 7-9, 2022
Futuricon (Eurocon 42) October 2–4, 2020 Held online
Octocon 2020 October 9–11, 2020 Held online
Valleycon 46 October 15–18, 2020 Cancelled
CAN*CON 2020 October 16–18, 2020 Cancelled
Capclave 2020 October 16–18, 2020 Held online
MileHiCon 52 October 23–25, 2020 Held online
OVFF 36 October 23–25, 2020 Replaced by online nOVFF
Scintillation 3 October 23–25, 2020 Postponed to October 8–10, 2021
World Fantasy Convention 2020 October 29 – November 1, 2020 Held online
Bristol-Con 2020 October 31, 2020 Postponed to 2021
ArmadaCon 2020 November 6–8, 2020 Held online on November 7
IceCon 2020 November 6–8, 2020 Cancelled
OryCon 42 November 12–14, 2020 Replaced by online OR-eCon/Postponed to 2021
CONtraflow X November 13–15, 2020 Postponed to October 1–3, 2021 October 7–9, 2022
Novacon 50 November 13–15, 2020 Postponed to November 12–14, 2021. Several attendees contracted Covid during the con.
Windycon 47 in 2020 November 13–15, 2020 Replaced by online Breezycon/Postponed to 2021
Philcon 2020 November 20–22, 2020 Held online
Chambanacon 50 November 27–29, 2020 Postponed to November 26–28, 2021
Chessiecon 2020 November 27–29, 2020 Held online
Loscon 47 November 27–29, 2020 Postponed to 2021
Smofcon 38 December 4–6, 2020 Replaced by online Smofcon 37 1/4/Postponed to 2021
2021
GAFilk 2021 January 8–10, 2021 Cancelled
Rising ConFusion (MI) January 15–17, 2021 Postponed to January 21–23, 2022
MarsCon 2021 (VA) January 15–17, 2021 Cancelled
Chattacon 46 January 22–24, 2021 Held online
COSine 2021 January 29–21, 2021 Cancelled
Capricon 41 February 4–7, 2021 Held online
Long Play (British Filk Convention 33) February 5–7, 2021 Cancelled
Life, the Universe, & Everything 39 February 11–13, 2021 Held online
Boskone 58 February 12–14, 2021 Held online
RadCon 8A February 12–14, 2021 Held online
Picocon 38 February 20, 2021 Held online
Concave 42 February 25–28, 2021 Online events substituted in 2021–22 / postponed to February 23–26, 2023
Mysticon 2021 February 2021 Cancelled
Coastcon 44 March 3–5, 2021 Postponed to March 4–6, 2022
MarsCon 2021 (MN) March 12–14, 2021 Held online
Eurocon 2021 March 18–21, 2021 Postponed to July 15–18, 2021
OutlantaCon 2021 March 18–21, 2021 Postponed to March 2022
ICFA 42 March 18–21, 2021 Held online
FantaSci 2021 March 19–21, 2021 Postponed to May 21–23, 2021
LepreCon 47 March 19–21, 2021 Held online
FilKONtario 31 March 19–21, 2021 Replaced by online FilKONtari-NO 2
Corflu 38 March 26–28, 2021 Postponed to November 3–5, 2021, except online FAAn Awards
Eastercon 72 (ConFusion) April 2–5, 2021 Held online
Fantastika 2021 (Swecon 23) April 9–11, 2021 Postponed to November 19–21, 2021
HELIOsphere 2021 April 9–11, 2021 Replaced by online Beyond the Corona
KONgres 2021 April 10–11, 2021 Held online
Costume-Con 39 April 23–25, 2021 Postponed to April 21–24, 2023
Penguicon 2021 April 23–25, 2021 Held online
Marcon 56 May 7–9, 2021 Postponed to September 3-5, 2021
Keycon 38 May 21–23, 2021 Held online
Balticon 55 May 28-31, 2021 Held online
MisCon 35 May 28–31, 2021 Cancelled
WisCon 45 May 28–31, 2021 Postponed to May 27–30, 2022
Fourth Street Fantasy 2021 June 17–20, 2021 Held online
Westercon 74 July 1–4, 2021 Postponed to July 1–4, 2022
Nullus Anxietas 7a July 2–4, 2021 Postponed to April 8–10, 2022, then cancelled
Readercon 31 July 9–11, 2021 Held online
DisCon III (Worldcon) August 25–29, 2021 Postponed to December 15–19 in April after Dec. '20 membership poll preferring it to virtual earlier. Virtual memberships and some program offered; about 31 attendees caught Covid, "cluster event" at WSFS Business Meeting
Albacon 2021 September 17–19, 2021 Held online
Capclave 2021 October 1–3, 2021 About 1/3rd smaller than usual
CAN*CON 2021 October 14–16, 2021 Held online
World Fantasy Convention 2021 November 4–7, 2021 Held as a “hybrid” online/live con. One attendee contracted Covid
Windycon 47 in 2021 November 12–14, 2021 Scheduled to be online but then held in person
Chessiecon 2021 November 26–28, 2021 Held online
2022
Arisia 2022 January 14–16, 2022 Cancelled. An “online gathering” held.
MarsCon 2022 (VA) January 14–16, 2022 Postponed to March 18–20, 2022
Redemption 2022 February 18–20, 2022 Postponed to 2023, then cancelled
MystiCon 2022 February 25–27, 2022 Cancelled
Picocon 39 March 5, 2022 Held online.
Corflu 39 March 18–20, 2022 Postponed to October 21–23, 2022
Chicon 8 (Worldcon) September 1–5, 2022 Held as scheduled but with lower than expected attendance and at least 60 cases of Covid. Virtual memberships and some program offered
Orycon 43 November 4–6, 2022 Replaced by online Or-E-Con 2 / postponed to November 10–12, 2023
Chessiecon 2022 November 25–27, 2022 Held as scheduled but didn’t make room block, resulting in $11K deficit and cancellation of 2023 con
2023
Redemption 2023 February 24–26, 2023 Cancelled
Costume-Con 41 April 21–24, 2023 Replaced by Costume-Con 39
Keycon 40 May 19-21, 2023 Postponed to May 17–19, 2024
Chessiecon 2023 November 24–26, 2023 Cancelled
2024
Norwescon 46 March 28–31, 2024 GoH Jim Butcher absent due to contracting Covid
WisCon 47 May 24–27, 2024 Postponed indefinitely


Fanhistory 2020—
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