COVID Outbreak at Faster Horses, Immediate Testing Is Urgent

Concert-goers brought home more than a selfie and a hangover from Michigan's Faster Horses Festival as at least 17 cases of COVID-19 infections are reported.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working with local public health departments on an investigation of cases of COVID-19 illness associated with the Faster Horses Festival. Held July 16-19 at Michigan International Speedway, the three-day country music festival was expected to draw 40,000 fans. Someone should have expected this: at least seventeen cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed.

Although we have made great progress with vaccination in our state, the virus continues to circulate in Michigan and across the country. Attendees at the festival may have been exposed and are urged to get tested if they are not fully vaccinated or if they develop symptoms.

-Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health

Those who attended Faster Horses and are not fully vaccinated are strongly urged to get a COVID test immediately. Testing sites are available across the state, many of them offering COVID-19 testing free of charge. Visit Michigan.gov/coronavirustest to find a testing site near you.

Let's review: People with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or have a wide range of symptoms – from mild to severe illness. Symptoms generally appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diahhrea

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