Many shared photos of “L” trains jam-packed with maskless people during Lollapalooza, spurring concerns those riders are increasing the risk of transmission because they’re indoors - and putting CTA workers at risk. For example, Sox Park reaches capacity at about 40,600 people, while a representative for Lolla said the festival saw about 100,000 people per day. Those events are significantly smaller than Lollapalooza, though. The mayor said street festivals have been held and baseball games played at Sox Park and Wrigley Field without them turning into super-spreader events. It will take some time to see if the festival can be tied to any jumps in Chicago’s coronavirus numbers, as the virus can incubate in a person for two to 14 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only about 52 percent of all Chicagoans are fully vaccinated, according to city data. “I understand the fascination with Lolla, but the fact is, in this city, … we’ve been able to open but do it with care because of the vaccinations,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot defended the festival in a rare Sunday news conference amid the mounting criticism. Photos of the massive, tightly packed crowds at the festival, on the CTA and around the Downtown area were widely shared online, adding fuel to people’s concerns. Chicago had to bring back its indoor mask recommendation Friday as the city is seeing substantial community transmission. The festival - which ran Thursday to Sunday - came as experts are ringing alarm bells about the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last week Lolla is set to be the biggest festival in the world this year. “No major incidents inside the park or outside the park.” “It was one of the safest Lollapaloozas we’ve put on in recent years,” First Deputy Supt. There were 19 people arrested, seven people cited and at least 102 people taken to hospitals from the festival. In all, at least 385,000 people attended, though official attendance is still being calculated, a police official said at a Monday morning news conference. Allison Arwady, head of the health department, said last week she does expect to see COVID-19 cases associated with Lolla. Chicago’s case rate and positivity rate have been on the rise, and Dr. Many have criticized Chicago leaders for allowing the four-day festival, worried it could turn into a super-spreader event as Delta has driven another wave of coronavirus cases around the United States. CHICAGO - More than 385,000 attended Lollapalooza in Chicago this weekend, officials announced Monday.
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