Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2021 will receive 50 visitors and tests will be held every 000 hours
On 28 June 2021, Barcelona will host the world's largest technology fair: Mobile World Congress (MWC). We remind you that the 2020 edition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which meant 28 hotel reservations thrown "in the trash".
On the occasion of Mobile World Congress Barcelona in 2021, half of the pre-COVID participants are expected, the equivalent of 45.000 - 50.000 people, and the organizer GSMA prepared an anti-COVID action plan that includes the requirement for negative COVID-19 tests every 72 hours.
Initially, the fair was scheduled for March 1-4, but was postponed due to the evolution of the pandemic. To ensure that the event takes place without risk of contagion, the organizers have implemented a health and safety plan, which is approved by the Catalan health authorities.
MWC will take place from June 28 to July 1 at the Gran Vía de L'Hospitalet de Llobregat exhibition center (Barcelona) and intends to gather around 50.000 people. They will need to wear an FFP2 mask and follow other safety protocols, such as physical distance, hand hygiene and temperature measurements.
Large companies will be present at MWC Barcelona 2021
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, stressed that the restrictions imposed on COVID-19 in all countries prevent the organization of an edition of the same magnitude as the previous ones, but he is confident that it will be a "success". Only in the February 2022 edition can we talk about a normality regarding the MWC and a much wider organization.
Regarding the participation of companies, the organizer understood that some exhibitors can not participate due to the impediments of the pandemic, but recalled that about 80% of large companies have signed the participation contract la Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2021.
In order to guarantee the safety and health of the participants, there will be several centers, managed by the same organization of the fair and a partner in the medical field to be announced soon, where those present will have to go to tests every 72 hours. In addition, there will be several test centers.
Between 50 and 100 hotels in Barcelona will have test centers
According to Hoffman, there will be between 50 and 100 hotels in Barcelona with test centers for participants and also at the Fira de Montjuïc location.
One of the pillars of the security plan will be the mobile application "My MWC", where all those participating in the fair will have to register. It will work like a fingerprint allows entry at the fair if the data are completed and presented with the negative test.
Participants who will travel by plane, will require a negative test before traveling, while those arriving by train or car will have to go to the MWC test centers to check their health.
All participants must present a valid negative rapid test to enter the location and the test must be repeated every 72 hours, the same "My MWC" application being the one that will notify the expiration of the mentioned tests.
Physical contact will be avoided
To avoid congestion, they have been designed input and output circuits.
In addition, a non-physical contact environment will be promoted so that spaces such as restaurants will be redesigned to ensure the distance: the flow and density of people will be controlled and the correct ventilation of the space will be guaranteed.
As for the space, Hoffman pointed out that despite the reduction presence, they will certainly occupy all the pavilions of the exhibition center in order to ensure enough space for visitors.
They also want to increase medical staff from the premises to carry out evaluations, will perform PCR or rapid tests and will collaborate, when necessary, with the Catalan medical authorities.
Contact tracking data will also be shared with health authorities, if necessary, to further mitigate exposure.
We remind you that just two weeks ago, the MWC in Shanghai was kept "safe" with about 17.000 participants and there were no incidents.