Authorities in Alabama have reportedly attributed the spike in number of Covid-19 cases in one of its counties, Tuscaloosa to non compliance with health guidelines by infected persons.
Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Chief Randy Smith said Tuesday that city officials were able to confirm incidents of students knowingly diagnosed with COVID-19 still choosing to attend parties and gatherings within the city and county.
“We thought that was kind of a rumor at first,” said Smith, who is heading the city of Tuscaloosa’s Incident Command team in response to the coronavirus. “We did some additional research. Not only did the doctors’ offices help confirm it, but the state confirmed they also had the same information.”
Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry told ABC News that students have been organizing “COVID parties” at which they intentionally infect each other.
“They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense,” McKinstry told the network. “They’re intentionally doing it.”
McKinstry told ABC News that officials want to prevent such parties, but the task is challenging because the students are blatantly disregarding guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
