We asked that any person who contracted COVID-19 during Westercon 74 or for one week following the convention send an email to covid@westercon74.org so that we could track any possible outbreak. We did not release any personally-identifying information without prior approval from the person who reported having been infected. The Westercon 74 COVID Committee is Fred Moulton, Sharon Sbarsky, and Kevin Standlee.
COVID-19 Cases Reported at Westercon 74
The following cases have been reported to us as of 2022-07-13, 08:00 Pacific Daylight Time. As it is now more than one week after Westercon ended and move-out concluded, we do not plan to report additional cases.
A total of 11 members (7% of those members who picked up their badges and attended the convention) reported positive COVID-19 tests within one week of the end of Westercon 74.
Westercon74Case001: Michelle Weisblat-Dane, who stayed in the Clown Motel, has reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen Test on Tuesday 2022-07-05. Michelle spent time in the TCC Blue Room, TCC Gold Room and the TCC Main Room Friday 2022-07-01 through Monday 2022-07-04 and also sold Westercon 75 memberships at the Westercon 75 table on Monday 2022-07-04.
Westercon74Case002: Jerry Lohr, who stayed in the Jim Butler Inn & Suites, reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen Test on Thursday 2022-07-07. He spent a lot of time in the TCC Main Hall and attended sessions in all the meeting spaces except the Safe Room and Gaming. He attended the Opening Ceremony, the Business Meeting, the Closing Ceremony, and the Alien Autopsy Party. While in town, he ate twice at the Pittman Cafe and once each at the Mexican restaurant (El Marques) and Hometown Pizza.
Westercon74Case003: Eileen Gunn, who stayed in the Belvada Hotel, reported being diagnosed with COVID-19 at a Kaiser Urgent Care facility on Friday 2022-07-08, with symptoms first appearing on Wednesday 2022-07-06. She spent a lot of time in the TCC Main Hall and Gold Room, in the Belvada Hotel, especially the Nevada Club Room and the Safe Room, and in the Mizpah Hotel bar and the Pittman Cafe in the Mizpah. She was there between Friday 2022-07-01 and Sunday 2022-07-03.
Westercon74Case004: Mary Creasey, who stayed in the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID test on Friday 2022-07-08. She spent most of the convention in the Dealers Room, but did attend filking in the Blue Room on Friday night. She ate at the A&W, Tonopah Station Stage Stop Grill, the Tonopah Brewing Company, and the Pittman Cafe in the Mizpah Hotel. She shopped at A-Bar-L Western Wear, Whitney’s Bookshelf, the smoke shop, and other stores along the main street as far as Hometown Pizza.
Westercon74Case005: Bill Laubenheimer, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen test on Friday, 2022-07-08, at 4:00pm. They attended panels in the Blue and Gold rooms, spent a lot of time in the Main Hall (including for the opening ceremony, Match Game SF, and closing ceremony), and evenings singing in the Blue Room filk circles. During the convention, they ate at the Pittman Cafe, the Strawberry Hill Diner, and with three groups of friends at the Tonopah Brewing Company.
Westercon74Case006: Carole Parker, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen test on Friday, 2022-07-08. She reported detailed activities as follows. Thursday: Ate dinner at the Pittman Cafe with spouse and five others. Friday: Presenter for panel Introduction to Shibori Techniques (Nevada Club Room); Dinner outing with two friends; attended Kathleen Sloan filk concert (Blue Room); worked the bar (Main Hall) in the evening hours. Saturday: Attended The Cutting Edge panel (Blue Room); dinner outing with spouse plus 3 other people; worked the bar (Main Hall) in the evening hours. Sunday: Presenter for panel No Sew Color (Gold Room); worked the bar (Main Hall) in the evening hours. Monday: Attended panel Costuming For Your Body (Gold Room); worked the bar (Main Hall) until closing; dinner outing with spouse and 3 other people.
Westercon74Case007: Chuck Serface, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen test on Saturday, 2022-07-09. He spent most of his time in the TCC Main Hall, but also attended the Trivia Contest in the Nevada Club Room on Sunday. He ate meals at the Pittman Cafe, the Tonopah Brewing Company, and the Strawberry Hill Diner.
Westercon74Case008 and Westercon74Case009: Jim and Sandy Manning, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 Antigen test on Sunday, 2022-07-10 upon arrival at their next destination (Nadi, Fiji). They spent most of his time in the TCC Main Hall, attending the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and Business Meeting, as well as program items in the TCC and the Mizpah Ballroom. They ate meals at the Pittman Cafe, the Tonopah Brewing Company, and the El Marques Mexican Restaurant.
Westercon74Case010: Larry Gomez, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 self-test on Saturday, 2022-07-09, after having negative self-tests on 2022-07-06 and 07. He attended one panel in the Mizpah Club Ballroom. He ate breakfast at the Pittman Cafe on 07-01 and the Belvada Coffee Shop three times during the weekend, and had dinners at the Pittman Cafe on 06-30 and 07-04, and at the Tonopah Brewing Company, Hometown Pizza, and El Marques Mexican restaurant one time each. He attended the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and spent a lot of time in the TCC Main Hall.
Westercon74Case011: Michael Grote, who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, reported a positive COVID-19 self-test on Monday, 2022-07-11. He attended panels in the TCC Blue and Gold Rooms and in the Belvada Hotel and the Mizpah Club. He ate dinner the Mizpah Hotel Bar on Thursday, ate take-out from A&W which he ate from his room on Friday, ate take-out Pizza from the Tonopah Liquor Co across the street which he ate from his room on Saturday, ate dinner at the Tonopah Brewing Company on Sunday, and finally ate dinner at the Stage Stop Cafe in the Tonopah Station on Monday. He ate breakfast in his room and lunch during afternoon panels.