NEW YORK (REUTERS) – About 15,000 individuals have registered to attend world tech present, the Shopper Electronics Present (CES), in individual prior to now 10 days, the organiser mentioned on Friday (Dec 10), in an indication of momentum for in-person occasions regardless of world fears in regards to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
In whole, “tens of hundreds” of individuals have registered up to now for the present, the organiser mentioned, with out citing a particular determine.
The Omicron variant was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong final month, sparking world considerations a few fast-spreading new model of the virus and decreasing prospects that latest will increase in journey would proceed.
Greater than 1,900 firms have dedicated to attending CES in Las Vegas in January, about half the pre-pandemic stage.
Main firms like Sony Electronics and business executives together with Common Motors’ chief government officer Mary Barra plan to journey to Las Vegas, though some together with Nvidia have deliberate a largely digital presence for a while.
“We’re not unrealistic: the present’s going to be smaller this yr,” mentioned Ms Jean Foster, senior vice chairman of promoting and communications for the Shopper Know-how Affiliation, the group organising CES. “It permits us to widen the aisles and accommodate social distancing.”
She mentioned curiosity in in-person attendance remains to be “full steam forward”. All attendees can be required to point out proof of full Covid-19 vaccination for the present, which is open Jan 5 to eight.