STURGIS, S.D. – As the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gets underway – the first official day is tomorrow – the Department of Health is encouraging all attendees to do what they can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
State officials have always said slowing down the spread of COVID-19 lies with each individual.
Health Secretary Kim Malsom-Rysdon says they are sending staff to the rally who will help with certain functions.
“We have staf that will be performing their normal duties, but in doing so, in making sure they feel comfortable doing that. We will ask them to maintain social distancing, pay attention to hygiene, washing their hands frequently and masking when they can’t maintain social distancing and to stay away from folks that, could in fact, be transmitting the disease.”
State Epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says the rally will certainly pose a risk for COVID-19 transmission, but so does any large gathering where people from a wide area congregate.
“Anytime you’re brining people together, especially if you’re bringing together individuals from areas that might have higher risk of COVID-19, that does pose a risk for transmitting the virus and that’s regardless of whether it’s the rally or a backyard picnic. Individuals do need to take proper precautions and decide whether or not they want to attend those types of events.”
Malsom-Rysdon says the health department staff at the rally will be doing their normal, rally-related work; such as making sure food vendors are compliant and conduct water testing for campgrounds.
However, she says her staff will also be helping with individuals in making sure they are protecting themselves from COVID-19 and from spreading it.
As for testing, Malsom-Rysdon says that probably wouldn’t happen until after the rally is over. She says they have a deployed a number of testing machines to West River hospitals.
“We have deployed a number of Abbott-ID machines to Rapid City, Sturgis, Custer and other towns to help with testing. We have also provided 5,000 tests to those providers so they have increased ability to test a higher volume.”
The city of Sturgis will also be providing hundreds of COVID-19 tests for city residents in late August.
