While it remains unclear how many people will ultimately be affected, many people are returning from the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show infected with COVID-19.

Multiple people have announced or privately shared with halfwheel that they have received positive COVID-19 results after returning from the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, which took place July 9-12 in Las Vegas. The head of one of the largest exhibitors at the trade show told halfwheel that nearly half of the company’s staff members that were in Las Vegas have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days.

Scott Pearce, executive director of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), told halfwheel that he was aware of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 after attending the trade show and that he was in contact with the organization’s board about the next steps the PCA would take.

halfwheel was informed of at least one individual who tested positive Thursday, July 7, in Las Vegas and returned home before the trade show even started and has since been made aware of numerous other individuals who tested positive either during the trade show or upon returning home. Data that was released yesterday regarding COVID-19 in Clark County showed the numbers dropping compared to a previous two-week period, but officials cautioned that the impact of the July 4 holiday was likely not yet evident in those numbers.

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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.