Chicago Health Officials Tout Lollapalooza 2021 as Success: “No Evidence of ‘Super-Spreader’ Event”

It’s been two weeks since Lollapalooza 2021 kicked off on July 29, and Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, now says that there are “no unexpected findings” from the festival with regard to COVID-19.

On Twitter, Dr. Arwady said there is no evidence that the estimated 385,000-person festival was a “‘super-spreader’ event” or that it had any “substantial impact to Chicago’s COVID-19 epidemiology.”

Dr. Arwady also shared that Chicago has tracked 203 total COVID-19 cases identified with Lollapalooza attendance, and that, as of August 11, no hospitalizations or deaths stemming from attendance have been reported.

Earlier today, concert promoter AEG Presents announced that it would require proof of full vaccination for all attendees and event staff at its venues and festivals, beginning October 1. Major artists including Jason Isbell and Bleachers are requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests for anyone attending their concerts this year.