COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a 10-day Motorcycle Rally in a Neighboring State — Minnesota, August–September 2020

Details

• Personal Author:
  Firestone, Melanie J. ; Wienkes, Haley ; Garfin, Jacob ; Wang, Xiong ; Vilen, Kelley ; Smith, Kirk E. ; Holzbauer, Stacy ; Plumb, Matthew ; Pung, Kelly ; Medus, Carlota ; Yao, Joseph D. ; Binnicker, Matthew J. ; Andrew Nelson, ; Yohe, Sophia ; Como-Sabetti, Kathryn ; Ehresmann, Kris ; Lynfield, Ruth ; Danila, Richard
• Corporate Authors:
  Minnesota. Department of Health. ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) Epidemic Intelligence Service. ; Center for Preparedness and Response(U.S.) Division of State and Local Readiness. ; Mayo Clinic. ; University of Minnesota. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.
• Description:
  What is already known about this this topic? Gatherings present an opportunity for rapid spread of COVID-19.
  
  What is added by this report? Following a 10-day motorcycle rally in South Dakota attended by approximately 460,000 persons, 51 confirmed primary event-associated cases, 21 secondary cases, and five tertiary cases were identified in Minnesota residents. An additional nine likely rally-associated secondary or tertiary cases occurred. Four patients were hospitalized, and one died. Genomic sequencing supported the associations with the motorcycle rally.
  
  What are the implications for public health practice? The impact of gatherings as a source of Virus Transmission underscores the importance of reducing the number of attendees at gatherings, using face masks, and encouraging physical distancing to prevent ongoing Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate the rationale for consistent mitigation measures across states.
  
  During August 7–16, 2020, a motorcycle rally was held in western South Dakota that attracted approximately 460,000 persons from across the United States to numerous indoor and outdoor events over a 10-day period. During August–September 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigated a coronaVirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak associated with the rally in Minnesota residents. Fifty-one primary event-associated cases were identified, and 35 secondary or tertiary cases occurred among household, social, and workplace contacts, for a total of 86 cases; four patients were hospitalized, and one died. Approximately one third (34%) of 87 counties in Minnesota had at least one primary, secondary, or tertiary case associated with this rally. Genomic sequencing supported the associations with the motorcycle rally. These findings support current recommendations for mask use, physical distancing, reducing the number of attendees at gatherings, isolation for patients with COVID-19, and quarantine for close contacts to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (1). Furthermore, although these findings did not capture the impact of the motorcycle rally on residents of other states, they demonstrate the rationale for consistent mitigation measures across states.
  
  Suggested citation for this article: Firestone MJ, Wienkes H, Garfin J, et al. COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a 10-Day Motorcycle Rally in a Neighboring State — Minnesota, August–September 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 20 November 2020.
  
  mm6947e1-H.pdf
  
  
• Subjects:
  BetacoronaVirus CoronaVirus Infections/Epidemiology CoronaVirus Infections/Transmission COVID-19/Epidemiology COVID-19/Transmission Crowding Motorcycles Pandemics/Prevention & Control Physical Distancing Pneumonia, Viral/Epidemiology Pneumonia, Viral/Transmission

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• Source:
  MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2020; v. 69 Early Release
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; South Dakota
• Pages in Document:
  6 pdf pages
• Volume:
  69
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:29f9d18c20d7a5cd79a8a9098314035d2a10fbe9eff01a5a6be59280f673ac41f20f40025d3227b88bf0a7878a95caa5c9bd726a32794c07185af4faaeaac982
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/97492/cdc_97492_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 256.33 KB ]