Super Bowl Events Triggered Upswing In FL Coronavirus Cases

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Super Bowl and related festivities played a part in a surge of coronavirus cases in Tampa Bay counties, the Florida Department of Health reported.

An investigation into the game, NFL Experience at Tampa's Riverwalk and social gatherings tracked cases from Jan. 29 to Feb. 22, according to health officials. Fifty-three out of the 260,648 COVID-19 statewide cases reported during this timeframe were associated with the Super Bowl or related activities.

It's likely the true number of COVID cases related to the Super Bowl events is much higher considering the gatherings at bars, house parties and restaurants, FDOH said.

The first report of a COVID-19 case linked to the Super Bowl was a set-up worker whose case was reported on Feb. 4. Following the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, health officials said they received multiple reports of COVID-19 cases from people who attended the game. For a complete view of the timeline and exposures, click here.

According to health department data, 21 cases most likely attended these festivities during the period when they were potentially infectious, and 25 cases were potentially exposed by attending these events. Twenty-eight cases report not having any other group setting other than the Super Bowl-related activities. Seventeen cases reported having other group setting activities that go beyond Super Bowl related activities

Hillsborough County was informed of four confirmed out-of-state COVID-19 cases that attended Super Bowl events in Tampa. Two out of those four people who attended the Super Bowl game were in their mid-50s, and present at the event during their infectious period. Reports show that these cases also traveled while infectious. The other two positive cases reported attendance at the NFL Experience, and other Superbowl festivities. The four individuals were from: Illinois, Michigan, Hawaii and North Carolina.

As of Wednesday, FDOH's data shows an increase of 6,014 positive cases with the statewide number reaching 1,924,114 since last March; 80,024 hospitalizations; and 31,829 deaths.