デルタ株猛威の中で大規模オートバイ集会、昨年は集団感染源に　米

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】全米で新型コロナウイルス感染が再拡大する中、サウスダコタ州の小さな町スタージスでは今週、オートバイ愛好家らによる最大集客数５０万人の大規模イベントが開催されている。（写真は資料写真）
　昨年の同イベントは２６万人以上への集団感染を引き起こしたと指摘されており、保健当局は感染力の強い変異株「デルタ株」の出現で、今年の集会が「スーパースプレッダー」イベントと化す恐れは昨年以上に高まっていると警告していた。
　だが、主催者側は、今年で８１回を迎える１０日間のイベントは地域の社会と経済にとって非常に重要で、中止はできないと主張した。
　健康保健上の懸念について問われた役場の広報担当者は、ワクチン接種の提供や、イベントの多くが屋外で行われること、バー内部の混雑防止のため屋外での飲酒を町が許可していることなどを強調。「今年、人々は外に出てまた旅を楽しみ、久々に友人と会えることをただ喜んでいる」と語り、「今は誰も新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ－１９）のことなど心配していない」と述べた。
　集会の参加に当たってワクチン接種や検査、マスクの着用は義務化されていない。消毒薬やマスクも提供されているが、参加者のほとんどはマスクを着けていない。
　会場では無料の検査やワクチン接種を受けられるが、免疫がつくのは接種から数週間後だ。
　昨年の集会には、全米から４４万５０００人が参加。昨年１２月に専門誌「サザン・エコノミック・ジャーナル」に掲載された研究論文によると、このイベントが感染源となって、新たに２６万人以上が新型コロナに感染したとみられる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/08/13-10:54）

Tens of thousands of leather-clad bikers roared into a small town in South Dakota this week for a mass motorcycle rally, despite a renewed surge in coronavirus cases across the United States.
Health officials have warned that the annual rally -- set to draw as many as half a million people -- could turn into a Covid-19 superspreader event, as was the case last year, with the more infectious Delta variant heightening concerns.
But organizers said the 10-day event, held in Sturgis for the 81st time, was too important for the local community and economy to pass up.
Asked about health concerns, town spokeswoman Christina Steele emphasized the ready availability of vaccines and the fact most events are being held outdoors -- with the city letting bikers consume alcohol outside to avoid crowding in bars.
This year people are just happy to be out and to be traveling again and having fun and meeting up with their friends they haven't seen in a while, Steele told AFP.
People are not concerned about Covid right now, she said.
The rally has no vaccine, testing or masking requirements -- but it is providing visitors with free tests and vaccines, even though it takes several weeks for immunity to kick in.
Sanitizer and face masks were available on request, though most participants were choosing to stay mask-free.
There are free masks available, but I don't think anybody is coming to get one, Steele said.
Last year, the rally drew 445,000 visitors from around the country and was blamed for a large outbreak of the virus.
According to a study published in the Southern Economic Journal in December, the event may have been responsible for more than 260,000 new Covid cases in the United States.
While South Dakota has stabilized infections in recent weeks, there are fears that attendees coming from out-of-state will bring the virus with them.
This year, authorities expect even more visitors and Steele said the crowd already looks bigger than in 2020.
As motorcycles hummed through the streets of Sturgis, Kristi Noem, South Dakota's Republican governor donned a black leather jacket, got on a bike and joined the rally.
In the Midwestern state's Meade County, where Sturgis, a town of 6,600 people, is located, only 37 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, compared to some 50 percent nationwide.
President Joe Biden's top infectious disease advisor Anthony Fauci warned last week that holding the rally was too risky given the surge in Covid cases.
This could be a superspreader. We don't want it to be but that's the reality, Dr Shankar Kurra, vice president of medical affairs at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, told CBS News.
Kurra said his entire hospital team would be staying in place through the rally, with vacations put on hold and extra staff hired in anticipation of a rise in Covid cases.