Grant County Health District Linking Multi-County COVID Outbreak to Watershed

The Grant County Health District says that the Watershed Music Festival spurred a multi-county COVID outbreak that could be classified as a super spreader event.

Administrator Theresa Adkinson says they have confirmed at least 160 positive tests of attendees to the concert series at the Gorge.

"It's very safe to say that the cases are much higher than this. This is just self-reported, the individuals that went in for testing, but it's enough for us to be able to identify it and get those folks into isolation."

Cases have been confirmed among attendees from as far away as Oregon.

Adkinson says there was a sense of safety since the event was outside.

"If you are sick, please do not attend these events. We had a number of the cases that reported they were not feeling well when they went to Watershed."

She says they are also working with event, rodeo and fair organizers to encourage testing performers and providing opportunities to physically distance.

For now, there will be no mandate for masks or distancing.