Thousands gather for Sturgis Motorcycle Rally amid U.S. COVID-19 surge 

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally could be another COVID super-spreader event

By Edward Era Barbacena

The 81st annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota brings more than 500,000 enthusiasts to the Black Hills of the western part of the state during its 10-day run.

While the Delta variant continues to drive new COVID outbreaks and hospital bed shortages around the country, an estimated 700,000 people are expected to pack into a small South Dakota town this week for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally—a 10-day bacchanal of bikers from around the country and the world. 

During last year’s rally—one of the largest public gatherings held in the first part of the pandemic—the virus spread from body to body as attendees expressed defiance at COVID restrictions by packing into bars, music venues, and restaurants. Almost none wore masks. The event, CDC researchers wrote in a study published this summer, had “many characteristics of a superspreading event: large crowds, high intensity of contact between people, potential for highly infectious individuals traveling from hotspots, and events in poorly ventilated indoor environments.” Contact tracers identified 463 attendees and 163 secondary and tertiary contacts who got COVID as a result of the rally—including 17 people hospitalized and one who died.

White House medical advisor and epidemiologist Dr. Anthony Fauci shared his concerns about South Dakota's upcoming Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on Sunday's "Meet the Press," subtly rebuking attendees as host Chuck Todd appeared to suggest it could be another coronavirus "super spreader" event.

Cases have begun to rapidly rise across the U.S. in the spread of the delta variant, which has also made way for a small variant known as "delta plus" variant that has a spike protein mutation that may cause it to have a spike in transmissions. Vaccinated individuals remain protected from serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 variants, studies have shown. 

Fauci and Todd wondered whether it was wise for South Dakota motorcyclists to assemble considering the context. 

"We have Sturgis, South Dakota, there's a gathering right now of some 700,000 people," Todd said. 

It was a smaller turnout last year, Todd noted, saying it still led to "a massive outbreak in the Dakotas." He asked his guest what he expects the rally to do to that part of the country this year.

"I'm very concerned, Chuck, that we're going to see another surge related to that rally," Fauci said.