I am now wondering what the definition of "crowded outdoor spaces" is. Is "crowded" any place where you cannot maintain at least 6ft of distance from another person? Shoulder-to-shoulder standing room only? Something in between?

I wonder (well, even more than I did previously) about the point of universal masks "at Gencon" if there is no mask mandate in Marion County by that time. So I wander around the public areas of the ICC and hotels -not to mention the bars, restaurants, and shops- without a mask to get to the badge-required zones where I then don my mask? Some people say "liability", but what liability? Gencon is not (debate-ably, to be fair) a critical service- nobody has to be there. Mask mandate or mask optional, you know the rules, you know the risks, it's up to you whether to go. 

I love how they announce this after the refund period.  Bunch of dill holes.

At this point, I'm not spending another dime on vendors if attending as I won't be spending much time in the hall.   

In fact, Kelsey (on Discord) said that Delta started becoming a real problem just two days after the last update (or something to that effect). Just bad timing/luck.

I've accepted that they clearly stated the refund deadline with no exceptions for changes in policy, but it's still kind of a let down. I am still interested in checking out the vendor hall and giving First Exposure a go, but I also anticipate spending more time this year exploring Indy, relaxing in the hotel, and pick-up gaming in the hotels. 

I'm still going but I purchased a small CFAR police from my credit union ...just in case I changed my mind

I have a friend who's probably going to demand a full refund. He can't wear a mask the entire con. Too bad, it was going to be his first year. (And before you respond "expiration date", that's what small claims court is for.)

My disappointment is that GenCon said 90% of us are vaccinated (or will be). Everyone I know is vaccinated so I feel like we're being punished for following the rules.

It is a bummer that Delta has popped up like it has. And based on the announcement ya'll should buckle your seat belt because it seems like the powers that be are very much wanting to make it vaccination mandatory. If they can find a legal option to do so it's gonna happen. Wait till you see that hornets nest. 

And I'd say that just because someone has not been vaccinated yet does not mean they are anti-vaxx. I wanted to get a lot of data and see a lot of numbers before I did, and I've had mine for about a month. Indiana also had it's highest vaccine day just recently so there are still people gradually moving that way. It does not help that the far fringes on both sides tend to be the loudest voices.

It is interesting to see that the vaccines are really good at preventing disease but not necessarily great at preventing infection, which I suppose was how they were described originally. It's also good to see that those that have recovered from Covid (aside from asymptomatic cases) are showing a long term robust defense against catching it again even with Delta. So I guess the silver lining is that as people catch it and recover it moves us closer to the end zone as well. The tough thing is it's hard to count recovered plus vaxxed because those groups overlap. 

Hopefully we will find that Delta is not as deadly even though it spreads faster because typically as viruses mutate they don't attack quite as aggressively. Still need more data though.       

I'm vaccinated and will NOT wear a mask.   GenCon has changed the rules so I expect a full and complete refund including hotel.  I hope many others also decide NOT to attend GenCon based on this mask policy change.  I'm sorry but I'm sick and tired of being inconvenienced to protect people that are foolish enough to have DECIDED not to get vaccinated.

I Agree with timjs21, I'm vaccinated and WILL NOT wear a mask. I'm sick and tired of all these whiney people that want everyone to wear one, ridiculous. If your that worried about things then STAY HOME, if you haven't been vaccinated THATS YOUR PROBLEM, if you have and your still worried, STAY HOME! I expect a FULL REFUND FOR EVERYTHING, since they want to change things at the last minute and bow down to these people, I WILL NOT!  

Hmmm... Might see some events open up. Time to check the event catalog to see what frees up.

if 90 percent are vaccinated then mask are not needed 

Good luck with the refunds. I don't feel you will get them, but I think you should be able to.

To those complaining about the masks and how it’s not their responsibility to protect those that refuse to get the vaccine, I have one question.

If you were one of the rare instances of a breakthrough infection and you found out that someone unvaccinated caught the virus from you and got sick or even died, how would you feel?

Please keep in mind that wearing a mask when you're vaccinated isn't really about protecting the wearer, nor is it really about protecting the random non-vaccinated adults you come across (although it does do both). It's about protecting the immune-compromised, too young, and other groups that can't be vaccinated. It's especially about protecting those vulnerable groups from the anti vaxxers, who catch the disease then spread it to everyone they contact. I certainly don't want to be accidentally responsible for someone bringing Covid back home and getting a vulnerable friend or relative sick. I can suffer a little inconvenience.

So yes, if a vaccine-eligible adult chooses not to be vaccinated at this stage I say screw em, the information to make a responsible choice is out there and they're ignoring it. But that doesn't go for their children, and all the innocent strangers who may not have the choice, that those people contact. 

I think we're about to see some waves of mandated vaccinations by employers and schools. Apparently the vaccines are also nearing final FDA approval so it will take the wind out of the "you can't mandate an experimental treatment!" people's sails. 

I think anger and frustration should be directed towards those people who enact dumb policies that directly affects us.  As a population, I'm pretty sure a vast majority people don't really give a sh*t about covid anymore.

People should be allowed to roll the dice and take the risks THEY CHOSE TO and be forced to follow bureaucratic policies put forth by corrupt douche bags.

As far as variant D goes,  Whoopity Doo.