The annual event, which was held in South Dakota from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16 against the advice of health officials, attracted an estimated 460,000 attendee vehicles this year, CNN reports. Specific activities and venues at the rally—including a concert for ’90s band Smash Mouth, largely attended by mask-less attendees, and a crowded saloon—have since been cited by health officials as significant coronavirus exposure events. Anonymous data collected from cell phones following the event found that visitors to the rally then returned home to 61 percent of all counties in the U.S. Local health officials have been working ever since to coordinate testing and proper contact tracing as a response to the sheer magnitude of the superspreader event’s reach. “We’re expecting that we’re going to see many more cases associated with Sturgis,” Kris Ehresmann, the director of the Minnesota Department of Health’s infectious disease division, said during a press call on Aug. 21. “Thousands of people attended that event, and so it’s very likely that we will see more transmission.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Unfortunately, that prediction is already coming true. Since the rally’s conclusion, cases linked to the gathering have ranged from east to west, with some related infections as far-reaching as New England and the Northeast. Here are 12 states that can trace COVID cases back to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. And for states struggling to contain coronavirus, These 4 States Should Lock Down Immediately, Harvard Researchers Say. 2 traced cases. And for more areas with COVID outbreaks, check out these 10 College Towns Where COVID-19 Cases Are Surging. 3 traced cases. 3 traced cases. And for a state in real trouble, This State Has Suddenly Become the Biggest Hotspot in the Country. 7 traced cases. 7 traced cases. And for states where cases are spiking, These Midwestern States Are Seeing a New Surge in COVID-19 Cases. 8 traced cases. 11 traced cases. 13 traced cases. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. 25 traced cases. 30 traced cases. And for more on coronavirus in North Dakota, This State Is Seeing Its Worst COVID Spike Since the Pandemic Began. 46 traced cases. 105 traced cases.
