South Dakota Gov. Calls Study Linking Sturgis Motorcycle Rally To Over 250,000 Virus Cases 'Fiction'

A new study finds the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota was a coronavirus “superpreading event" that cost public health agencies $12.2 billion. Thank GOP @govkristinoem https://t.co/2BcfQaFvz1
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) September 8, 2020

This report isn't science. It's fiction.

Under the guise of academic research, it's nothing short of an attack on those who exercised their personal freedom to attend Sturgis. (THREAD 1/) https://t.co/3zkmabJV2y
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 8, 2020

Predictably, some in the media breathlessly report on this non-peer reviewed model, built on incredibly faulty assumptions that do not reflect the actual facts and data. (2/)
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 8, 2020

At one point, academic modeling also told us that South Dakota would have 10,000 COVID patients in the hospital at our peak. Today, we have less than 70.

I look forward to good journalists, credible academics, and honest citizens repudiating this nonsense. (3/3)
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 8, 2020

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that having hundreds of thousands of people gathered for 10 days during a pandemic was a bad idea.
— Travis Kriens (@traviskriens) September 8, 2020

Freedom of choice? The city council of Sturgis sent out a survey asking for local input. 60% said cancel, they went ahead anyhow. Where was their choice?
— Lisa (@hahnylisa) September 8, 2020

It's interesting that now you're interested in peer reviewed science. It's never mattered before. Some leaders rise to the challenges of their times and then there's you who goes on a national tour and encourages her state to become a covid hot spot. Resign and join the rodeo.
— Geri Mattern (@geri_mattern) September 8, 2020

this is not even an analysis.

it's a compilation of data tricks and mistaking models for reality.

it uses cases without adjusting for testing levels.

but worse, it uses a made up baseline. to see just how badly that baseline misleads, here are 3 US states

one hosted sturgis. https://t.co/R2mvzv1xZf pic.twitter.com/G4ys2of63m
— el gato malo (@boriquagato) September 8, 2020

Honestly we shouldn't be surprised that this could be the case. It was irresponsible to have the rally. pic.twitter.com/dO4VckgP7B
— yibo sunbae 𖧵 still missing yoonjin (@london_fog89) September 9, 2020

Leaders take responsibility. This isn't leadership, Governor. You need to start taking this pandemic seriously. Stop playing politics and lead.
— Doug Murano (@muranofiction) September 8, 2020

First, the actual facts as presented in the report are, well, factual. Anyone who read the report and checked its sources could see that. Second, the report, and the outlets distributing it, made no claim that it was peer reviewed. Your claims are unsubstantive. Predictably.
— gooding_the_c (@gooding_the_c) September 8, 2020

Says the woman who signed the whole state up for a hydroxychloroquine trial which was stopped three weeks later.

If you're so concerned about "science" you wouldn't have held the rally in the first place. All you did was collect some taxes and leave a mess for other states.
— Clark (@Clark408) September 8, 2020

Not everyone is running around maskless & refusing to social distance. Sturgis gave us a glimpse of what no mitigation strategies would have looked like.#COVID19 is far more infectious than flu. https://t.co/Ak1eMxuenR
— Joimonki 🌊 😷 IMissMyGrandchildren #GrANTIFA (@joimonki) September 8, 2020

Kristi Noem should be in jail for manslaughter. @govkristinoem
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) September 9, 2020

2 weeks after the Sturgis motorcycle rally, South Dakota has the highest positivity rate (20.9%) in the country.
— Henry J. Kraven (@HenryJKraven) September 7, 2020