COVID Outbreak At Randall's Island Music Festival; 16 Cases

Harlem NY

15 September, 2021

6:59 PM

Description

EAST HARLEM, NY — A cluster of COVID-19 cases has been confirmed following a music festival that happened on Randall's Island earlier this month, city health officials said Wednesday. Sixteen people have been linked to the outbreak stemming from the Electric Zoo festival, which was held from Sept. 3–5 on Randall's Island. More than 100,000 people have attended the festival in past years. Anyone who attended the festival should get tested for COVID-19 right away, regardless of their vaccination status, the city's health commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, said in a statement. "This is especially urgent if attendees are experiencing symptoms," he said. Besides the 16 people, another eight people have been identified who were likely exposed to the virus before attending the festival and may have been contagious while they attended, the city said. Coronavirus testing sites can be found at nyc.gov/covidtest. The city's Health Department is investigating the cluster and will alert other departments outside the city to help identify cases there. Electronic Zoo, an electronic music festival, has been held on Randall's Island over Labor Day Weekend since 2009.