The 80th annual Bike Week begins today in Daytona Beach, expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people over the next 10 days.
Last year’s event was canceled at the start because of COVID-19. But Bike Week happened unofficially around parts of Daytona Beach.
This year, city officials approved permits for the event that limit many indoor merchants to 60 percent capacity. Parking has also been reduced to allow for social distancing.
"Please follow the latest CDC COVID-19 guidance to ensure everyone’s safety," city officials wrote in a press release. "Residents and visitors should wear face coverings when indoors and physical distancing is not possible and wash hands often."
This isn’t the first time a large motorcycle gathering has been in the news since the pandemic started.
A study published in November used DNA testing to link 86 cases - including four hospitalizations and one death - to the massive Sturgis motorcycle gathering in South Dakota. Those cases were in neighboring Minnesota.
