TIFF warns attendees about COVID-19 case at festival

The Toronto International Film Festival has alerted attendees about a COVID-19 case in an audience member.

The infection somehow slipped through even though TIFF viewers need to be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 tests to enter screenings.

The festival’s customer relations team was informed of the positive result, organizers confirmed to Daily Hive Thursday.

Medcan, TIFF’s health and safety consultants, believe the exposure is low risk because. But the festival has still emailed attendees of viewings where the infected person was, in case they wish to seek testing.

• See also:
  • Second pandemic-affected TIFF kicks off this week
  • TIFF to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test to enter its venues

Some TIFF attendees shared screenshots on Twitter of emails they received from festival organizers about potential virus exposure. Affected screenings include Dune on September 11 at noon, The Humans on September 12 at 6:30 pm, and another undisclosed press and industry screening.

Huge credit to @TIFF_NET for not pretending that Covid is over, treating patrons like adults and for informing without causing panic or spreading false info. I’ve been highly critical of lots from this year, but this is clearly a smart move that surpasses all other fests #TIFF21 pic.twitter.com/Up5nL9MMSd

— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) September 16, 2021

scissor me timbers pic.twitter.com/pHnueSsI4Q

— Jason (@jasonosia) September 16, 2021

just got a message from tiff saying that someone in a 9 AM P&I screening i went to tested positive for covid-19.

— Chandler Levack (@clevack) September 16, 2021

In-person TIFF attendees are supposed to wear masks throughout the screening, and are not permitted to bring food into the cinema.

TIFF screenings are permitted to fill up 50% of the auditorium or admit 1,000 people — whichever is less.