No masks required as 250,000 expected at 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Here’s what to know.
by Joel Shannon from https://news.yahoo.com One of the largest events since the beginning of the pandemic has begun in South Dakota: More than 250,000 people are expected at the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. That’s scaled down from previous years, where about half-a-million people have descended on the city of about 7,000 for an event that has developed a reputation as an anything-goes festival. While the 80-year tradition isn’t as raucous as it once was, festivalgoers will be largely free of social distancing restrictions common elsewhere in the country during this year’s 10-day festival. Bikers flocking to the small town from around the country won’t face quarantining requirements if they are from a coronavirus hot spot. And masks? They’re encouraged – not required. So far, few people are heeding that encouragement, according to an Associated Press reporter at the event. Many who rode their bikes into Sturgis on Friday expressed defiance at the rules and restrictions that have marked life in much of the world during the pandemic. “Screw COVID,” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked. “I went to Sturgis.” Local officials have made efforts to scale down the event, but some expect restriction-weary bikers to flock to Sturgis in large numbers. “It’s the biggest single event that’s going on in the United States that didn’t get canceled,” said Rod Woodruff, who operates the largest campground and concert venue that lies outside the bounds of the city. “A lot of people think it’s going to be bigger than ever.” In addition to normal concerns about crime, many locals are worried the huge crowds and lack of social distancing rules will lead to an unmanageable outbreak of COVID-19. What is Sturgis? The rally may be known for rowdy, drunken and naked shenanigans, but in recent years longtime attendees complain it […]