Association of Mass Gatherings and COVID-19 Hospitalization

We examined COVID-19 hospitalizations following mass gatherings in Wisconsin and Minnesota, United States (September 17-18, 2020). We found that the hospitalization rate increased 15-fold in the Minnesota gathering county, and 12.7-fold in the Wisconsin gathering county. On the state level, it increased 2-fold in Minnesota, and 2.3-fold in Wisconsin, while not increasing significantly in states without gatherings. Our findings suggest that mass gatherings are followed by increased COVID-19 hospitalizations, and that precautions should be taken.