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On August 7-16, more than 400,000 motorcycle enthusiasts gathered for a convention in Sturgis, South Dakota, USA.
Several health leaders had warned against holding the annual convention, but organizers were adamant.
During a concert with the band Smash Mouth, vocalist Steve Harwell is said to have said “shit on covid” to the crowd, according to Forbes. It may seem that many of the participants did too.
A group of economists estimates that 250,000 people may have been infected at the convention. Write Forbes.
The figures have not been confirmed by epidemiologists or the authorities.
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Tracked Teledata
The study, published by the Institute for Labor Economics, looked at teledata that tracks traffic in restaurants, bars, hotels and other gathering spots around the Sturgis area.
He has also analyzed the increase in infection in the area in question, but also in places where many visitors resided. Here you can see an increase in infection in the weeks after the motorcycle show.
The study finds that the convention contained several “worst case” scenarios for a super spreader event. It is noted, among other things, that the convention lasted a full ten days and was not organized by distance rules. Few also used face masks.
According to Andrew Friedson, one of the economists behind the study, more than 250,000 cases of infection were reported between August 2 and September 2 that can be traced back to the event, meaning the convention accounted for 19 percent of all infections nationwide during this period.
Fear of a new contagion bomb
– Cost 12.2 billion
The study has also tried to analyze the costs associated with this. Here, the authors estimate that if none of those infected die, it will cost society more than $ 12 billion. This corresponds to more than 107 billion Norwegian crowns.
– All you have to do is pay each participant $ 26,553,64 for not participating, says the study.
But he also acknowledges that the costs are not entirely real.
Another report, from Reuters, shows that South Dakota has had the largest increase in infections in the country in the past two weeks, if you look at the percentage. With 3,700 new cases of infection, this is an increase of 126 percent.
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Man died
At least twelve states must have had an increase in infection as a result of the motorcycle convention. Iowa and North Dakota are also among the affected states.
The first death that could be related to the convention occurred last week, when a man in his 60s from Minnesota died.
The man had underlying illnesses and was admitted to the intensive care unit after returning from the convention.
Many of the participants have reportedly been reluctant to be tested for the virus.
