At least 41 coronavirus cases traced to swingers convention in New Orleans

The organizer of a swingers convention that is linked to at least 41 cases of coronavirus says if he could "go back in time, I would not produce this event again."

The "Naughty in N'awlins" convention was held in mid-November. Roughly 250 people attended the event, down from about 2,000 people in 2019, NOLA.com reports. Organizer Bob Hannaford said people had to test for COVID-19 before arriving, and half of them reported having antibodies; attendees were then given color-coded wristbands depending on their status.

Hannaford said participants were told to social distance and keep contact diaries, and several have shared with him that they became complacent on the last day of the event and that's "probably why they ended up positive."

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One of the participants is now hospitalized with the virus and in serious condition, and Hannaford said that he wouldn't have organized the event "if I knew then what I know now. It weights on me and it will continue to weigh on me until everyone is 100 percent better." The pandemic has been raging in the United States since March, and cases were on the rise in Louisiana when the convention was held.