Large Crowd At Minnesota Rodeo Potentially Exposed To Coronavirus

ITASCA COUNTY, MN — State health officials are urging people who attended a rodeo in northern Minnesota to watch for symptoms of coronavirus and to take precautions to limit spread after learning that an attendee had the virus.

Thousands of people showed up to the rodeo last weekend, despite Gov. Tim Walz's statewide order that restricts large gatherings.

"Thanks to John Olson from the Mn Dept. of Health and Jason Pleggenkuhle from the Attorney General's office pushing their political agendas, The North Star Stampede will take place with no spectators," Cimarron Pitzen, an organizer for the event, wrote on Facebook days before the event.

"If people would like to come and protest against this ridiculous Government Over Reach, feel free to do so, I will not stand in the way of peoples 'Right to Assemble.'"

The Minnesota Department of Health determined that a resident from a neighboring county attended the North Star Stampede in Itasca County July 23 through 26 while they were infectious with COVID-19.

The person developed symptoms July 27 and tested positive the same day. Because people are infectious several days before symptom onset, health officials determined the person was infectious while at the event.

It’s not known how many of the several thousand people who attended the event may have been exposed, but health officials are still investigating and trying to determine whom the person may have had contact with at the event.

"People may have been infected with the virus, and we have an opportunity to prevent additional spread of the disease if we can get those in attendance to take the necessary precautions," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm in a news release.

"If you attended this event, you should consider yourself potentially exposed. That means you should be watching for symptoms and if you do develop symptoms, seek health care and get tested. In the meantime, please limit your public interactions and activities for 14 days, practice social distancing and wear a mask during all interactions with others."

Health officials said no other illnesses connected with this event have been detected yet, but the incubation period for COVID-19 can be as long as 14 days.

"Our concern with this situation is heightened because we know that many people at this event were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing," said Kris Ehresmann, director of infectious disease at the Minnesota Department of Health.

As cases of the virus continue to rise in the state, health officials are asking all Minnesotans to double down on measures that can help limit spread of the disease

This article originally appeared on the Across Minnesota Patch