Emerald City Comic Con made an announcement on Friday, March 6 that has left fans muddled with sorrow: the convention has been postponed until summer 2020. This decision was difficult to make as ReedPOP has carved out an iconic gathering each year, but concerns about the spread of COVID-19 ultimately took precedence. Fans should expect a refund for their tickets within the next 30 days.

Emerald City Comic Con 2020

via Twitter @emeraldcitycon

This postponement was made amid the 14 deaths due to COVID-19 in the Puget Sound region. Schools, colleges and businesses alike have taken precautions to disinfect their premises and protect their students and workforce. Although the casualties have mostly included elderly patients, the possibility of other contracting the vir

us is still real. Those with chronic medical conditions, including heart, lung, kidney or autoimmune disorders, as well as children are also at risk. So, you can understand why a convention expecting around 100,000 visitors each day in an enclosed space would be weary of continuing the show as planned.

That said, if you do find yourself wanting to attend a gathering in lieu of ECCC’s postponement, here are some tips to keep yourself healthy:

  • Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
  • Use hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol or more. If your local grocery stores are out of stock, I’d suggest hitting up Bath & Body Works for full-size and mini hand sanitizers.
  • Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, mouth and nose.
  • Don’t share water glasses or bottles with others. You never know who they’ve come in contact with.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes, preferably with your elbow (a.k.a. the “vampire” technique). Dispose of any tissues immediately and wash your hands or use sanitizer.
  • Keep your vitamin C levels up with supplements such as Emergen-C as an extra precaution.
  • Stay home if you feel sick — yes, even if it’s just the sniffles or you suspect it’s just allergies. Better to be safe than sorry!
  • Don’t, however, feel the need to stock up on bottled water and rice like “The Walking Dead” has come to life. As far as we know, COVID-19 is NOT spread through water sources. Unless you’re taking a swig of backwash from someone else’s glass, there’s no need to fear your drinking water.

I commend the ReedPOP staff for making the difficult decision to postpone ECCC despite trying its best to keep the show going for fans and creators alike. Safety comes first, even (especially?) for nerds like us. So, let’s be thankful that the convention staff has our best interest in mind and look forward to a SUMMER convention! I’m sure the warmer weather will make for a unique experience this year. Can’t wait to see you all there!

You can follow Emerald City Comic Con on Twitter for updates regarding the show. And while you’re there, you can give me a follow as well!