Few coronavirus cases linked to concerts, festivals, NC officials say

Since the pandemic began in North Carolina 18 months ago, only eight clusters, totaling 136 cases statewide, have been tied to concerts, festivals and sporting events, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. A cluster is defined as five or more coronavirus cases that can be linked together.

“This report includes clusters identified by [local health departments] but underrepresents the full scope of clusters and associated cases occurring across the state,” DHHS officials said.

“Right now, we really have not been seeing cases tied to these events," said Jermaine Walker, part of a 20-person team of contact tracers in Wake County investigating positive cases. "The community at large is doing a good job of requiring the masks."

Still, Walker said, even though clusters haven't been tied to concerts and festivals locally, that’s not to say some people didn’t get infected.

“At this point, it’s really community spread, so it’s really coming from all over," he said.

North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

Multiple health departments say a large number of cases are coming from casual indoor gatherings where people are in close contact without masks.

Restaurants, for example, are linked to a recent uptick in virus clusters, state officials said. Cases in K-12 schools are also increasing and are at the highest level since the pandemic began.

"I want to go out, but you cannot always trust everyone outside," said Matthias Lugane, a visitor to the area.

Statewide, 460 clusters tied to schools have been reported since the pandemic began, totaling more than 4,000 cases. Meanwhile, 59 clusters have been linked to restaurants, while only three were linked to bars and breweries.

“I prefer to go to a brewery, for example, where you have your own table. You don’t get close together," Lugane said.

Health officials said even outdoor gatherings come with some risk and recommend masks be worn outside when social distancing isn't possible.

Like many young adults, Lauren LeMay said she is ready to get back to concerts and nightlife.

“I feel like it’s really difficult to keep track of just because people are going to multiple bars a night, or they are going to a restaurant before," LeMay, of Johnston County, said of tracking the source of new cases. "It’s just hard to keep track of.”