In a concerning turn of events, a homecoming dance organized by parents of Rolla High School in Missouri has been labeled a potential “superspreader event” by local health officials. The unsanctioned dance, which took place at Matt’s Steakhouse on November 7th, has already led to 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with more expected.
According to an investigation by The Daily Beast, invitations for the clandestine event were themed around sailing and circulated via Snapchat to bypass the school’s COVID guidelines. Organizers communicated through vague Facebook posts and shared information on Instagram, ultimately drawing over 150 students to the gathering.
The Phelps-Maries County Health Department announced that they are notifying students, families, and staff who may have been in contact with those who tested positive. “This event potentially poses a significant risk for further infections over the coming weeks,” the department warned on Facebook. They condemned such gatherings for undermining public health efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the wider community.
During contact tracing, officials confirmed that attendees did not wear masks throughout the event. This has led to a halt in other testing and contact tracing activities in the area due to the overwhelming number of cases linked to the dance. “All efforts are currently focused on this event, delaying our ability to contact new positive cases,” the health department stated.
Similar incidents have been reported across the U.S., like a small wedding in Maine that resulted in numerous infections and fatalities. Ashley Thompson, health director of the Phelps-Maries County Health Department, noted that students from all high school grades were present, but the absence of an official attendee list has complicated tracing efforts. Organizers apparently concealed the number of attendees to evade contact tracing.
Phelps County is witnessing a notable increase in COVID-19 cases, raising alarms among health officials. Ed Harrison, CEO of Phelps Health Medical Center, expressed grave concerns about the rising frequency of gatherings without safety measures. “We’re seeing more patients exhibiting serious symptoms,” he remarked.
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Summary:
A secret homecoming dance organized by parents in Rolla, Missouri, has resulted in at least 11 COVID-19 cases, prompting health officials to issue warnings about its potential to become a superspreader event. With over 150 students in attendance and no masks worn, the event has complicated contact tracing efforts, causing a backlog in testing procedures. Health officials express growing concern over rising case numbers linked to such gatherings.