Some noteworthy news items compiled by HealthDay staff:
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Caused Coronavirus Cases in Minnesota
The Sturgis motorcycle rally held in South Dakota in August triggered a surge of coronavirus cases in Minnesota, a new study finds.
Before the rally, health officials expressed concern that it would cause new outbreaks, and these findings confirm that it did, CBS News reported.
After the event that attracted nearly half-million people, about one-third of counties in Minnesota had coronavirus cases linked to the rally, according to the study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Minnesota had 86 cases related to the rally, 51 people who went to the event and 35 who came into contact with those people later, state officials said.
Most of the patients didn’t develop serious illness, but four were hospitalized and one died, CBS News reported.
“These findings highlight the far-reaching effects that gatherings in one area might have on another area,” the study authors wrote. “The motorcycle rally was held in a neighboring state that did not have policies regarding event size and mask use, underscoring the implications of policies within and across jurisdictions.”
At least 290 people in 12 states tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the motorcycle rally, the Associated Press found, CBS News reported.
Ice Bucket Challenge Co-Founder Dies
Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder Pat Quinn has died at the age of 37 after a seven-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
His death was announced Sunday morning by the ALS Association, CBS News reported.
“It is with great sadness that we must share the passing of Patrick early this morning,” the ALS Association posted online. “He was a blessing to us all in so many ways. We will always remember him for his inspiration and courage in his tireless fight against ALS.”
After taking social media by storm in the summer of 2014, the challenge has raised $115 million for the ALS Association and more than $220 million for ALS research, CBS News reported.
Quinn was diagnosed with ALS in March 2013 at the age of 30. He co-founded the challenge with the late Pete Frates.
Donald Trump Jr. Has Coronavirus
Donald Trump Jr. has tested positive for the new coronavirus, and is the latest member of the president’s familyto be infected with the virus.
Trump Jr. tested positive at the start of the week and has been “quarantining out at his cabin since the result,” a spokesman told CBS News.
“He’s been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines,” according to the spokesman.
Trump Jr. is the first of the president’s adult children to test positive. His youngest child, Barron Trump, tested positive in October. The president was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early October and his wife Melania tested positive around the same time.
A number of White House aides and officials have tested positive, CBS News reported.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson Was ‘Desperate Ill’ With COVID-19
U.S. Housing and Urban Development SecretaryBen Carson was “desperately ill” with COVID-19, he says in a Facebook post.
The 69-year-old member of the White House coronavirus task force tested positive for the virus last Monday.
He was among several who became infected after attending an election night event at the White House, CBS News reported.
In the Facebook post Friday, Carson noted that “I have several co-morbidities and after a brief period when I only experienced minor discomfort, the symptoms accelerated and I became desperately ill.”
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