Updated March 27, 2023
Registration
All attendees at Clockwork Alchemy must show:
- proof of vaccination, either the original document, or a state/medical provider app, which clearly shows the name of the vaccinated person and the dates of the vaccines and boosters if boosted. This must match the photo ID you are required to show to pick up your badge.
- OR proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before entering the convention which clearly shows the name of the attendee, the test date and result. Result report must match the photo ID of the attendee. At-home self tests are not an acceptable form of proof, and will not be administered on site. Your local county or health care provider can provide testing at a low or no cost. There is a San Mateo County testing facility 72 hr turn around, sites can be found on their website https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing
Face Masks
California’s masking rules are changing April 3, 2023 according to new information from the state’s department of public health. Guidance for Face Coverings (ca.gov) In response we are reducing mask requirements for much of the con but encourage those who wish to continue wearing masks to do so.
Appropriate face masks, worn covering both the nose and mouth, will continue to be required inside the Convene Ballroom and the Western Martial Arts (WAR room/Inspire 2) regardless of vaccination status. Masks are not required in the rest of the convention spaces, hotel corridors and public spaces. Clockwork Alchemy will provide masks at Registration, Info Desk, at the entrance to the WAR room, Convene Ballroom and ConOps.
These last few months have seen many changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with new recommendations from experts around the world, many coming even in the last week. In response, Clockwork Alchemy, and its governing board, have adopted health and safety protocols designed to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 while making the convention fun and memorable for everyone.
Clockwork Alchemy remains committed to hosting a convention that will protect our fans and staff from the spread of COVID-19 while still providing the full Clockwork Alchemy experience.
Room Capacity
All panel rooms and other programming venues will have a reduced 2/3rds maximum capacity at all times.
Lines for events and panel programming will be closed once we reach the 2/3rds reduced room capacity to reduce the number of people congregating in an area and to improve traffic flow.
It may become necessary to limit room capacity in larger spaces, in order to ensure safe social distancing. Rooms such as Ballroom, WarRoom, Gallery, and Bazaar will have door monitors keeping a tally of each room’s occupants. Please respect the door monitors if they request you wait for someone to exit before entering.
Hotel cleaning
Our hotel has adopted enhanced cleaning protocols and is committed to delivering above and beyond the sanitation standards established by the CDC. Details can be found here: https://whattoexpect.marriott.com/sfosa
Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the event space in the hallways, and touchless water dispensers are located in the panel rooms and other event spaces.
Other changes
California Dept of Public Health updates on the Covid variants can be found here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspx
About COVID-19
COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease that is spread from person to person, including through aerosol transmission of particles produced when an infected person exhales, talks, vocalizes, sneezes or coughs. COVID-19 is less commonly transmitted when people touch a contaminated object and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is highly transmissible and can be spread by people who show no symptoms and who do not know they are infected. Particles containing the virus can travel more than six feet, especially indoors and in dry conditions with relative humidity below 40%.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over 50% of the spread of the virus is from individuals with no symptoms at the time of spread. COVID-19 spreads mainly among unvaccinated people who are in close contact (within six feet for more than 15 minutes) with one another, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
Vaccination is the key in a multi-layered approach to protect people. Vaccines authorized by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration are highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 illness. See CDC’s Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.
According to the CDC, the symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell