Large Swingers Gathering Ends With Dozens Infected By COVID-19

An annual convention of swingers met in New Orleans last month, despite the increase in coronavirus cases across the state. Since the gathering, at least 41 people who attended have tested positive for COVID-19. Now, the organizer of the Naughty in N'awlins event wishes he could change what happened.

"If I could go back in time, I would not produce this event again," Bob Hannaford wrote in a blog post about this year's event.

He continued, "I wouldn't do it again if I knew then what I know now. It weighs on me and it will continue to weigh on me until everyone is 100% better."

While the event usually attracts around 2,000 attendees, this year's event was limited to 300 due to the pandemic. Prior to the gathering, attendees were tested for either the coronavirus or the antibodies it leaves behind. During the events held over the week, masks were worn, social distancing was enforced, and attendees kept diaries of who they were in contact with. However, over the course of the convention, the dedication to these regulations seemed to fade.

"In almost every case, they admitted to us that they were super diligent on the first two days [Wednesday and Thursday] and then they relaxed a little on Friday and then they said 'F--- it, it's our last day' and many admitted that their lax effort on that final day is probably why they ended up positive," he wrote.

According to Hannaford, most of those who tested positive had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic, but one attendee was was hospitalized in serious condition. They have since been released.

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