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TAP TIMES -23- JANUARY 2022

SEMICON Europa was a shadow of its former self

MUNICH, Germany —SEMICON Europa, On opening day, thousands of people were
co-hosted with productronica (small crammed shoulder-to-shoulder into the
“p”), in Munich was far from a bust, convention center’s foyer waiting nearly an
though arguably it was just a shadow hour to prove their identification and proof
of its former self. of vaccination at choke points near the
turnstiles.

Martin Hart, Contributing Editor On the following day, authorities changed
hart@topline.tv the rules to force thousands of people to
stand shoulder-to-shoulder outside the
A thankful sojourner front doors – letting a handful of people at
Having made the trek from California, this a time to enter.
sojourner is thankful that the show pro-
ceeded as planned. Freezing cold
Standing in the freezing cold for an hour,
Just a day or two before my plane took off the agitation of the crowd — mainly exhib-
from LAX, a sky rocketing ascent in cases itors waiting to get to their booths — was
of COVID-19 in Germany’s State of Ba- quite palpable.
varia — mostly infecting the unvaccinated
(sound familiar?) — almost caused the Every few minutes some people with big
show to be canceled. egos pushed their way through the mass-
es, trying to reach the front of the line. I

It was a bit surreal to be near ground zero prayed that everyone’s patience was in
of COVID Code Red territory, while being check, and that no stampede would ensue.
surrounded by thousands of visitors who next page
endured this shared experience.

Compliance
On one hand, the
show organizers,
under the direction of
the Bavarian authori-
ties, enacted a policy
of strict compliance
— requiring proof of
vaccination before
allowing admission to
the show.

On the other hand,
however, the rules
were changing so
frequently, that it ac-
tually created unsafe
conditions. Registration at SEMICON Europa was a herd event.