People are having coronavirus PARTIES to purposely become infected and get disease ‘out of the way’
PEOPLE are reportedly having coronavirus parties to get infected on purpose in an effort to get the disease “out of the way,” reports say.
Officials in Washington state discovered at least two COVID-19 parties in recent weeks, which may become a new source of the in-state spread.
Party goers intentionally mingled with an infected person to contract the vicious virus that has infected 1.2 million Americans and killed over 71,000.
On Wednesday, Meghan Debolt, the director of community health for Walla Walla County, said investigators recently became aware of two of these parties, reports the New York Times.
Two young attendees who went to one of these 20-person parties fell ill and tested positive for the virus.
They told officials they presumed they were not at a significant risk, Debolt said – but they didn’t consider spreading it to other more vulnerable people.
“They feel really bad now, knowing that they put families and friends and others at risk,” Ms. Debolt said.
“If our community isn’t practicing proper physical distancing and social distancing guidelines, and they are intentionally trying to go and contract COVID-19, that sets us back pretty far from being able to open,” she added.
The director said that state officials uncovered there was a second party during their interviews.
Debolt acknowledged that people were growing increasingly frustrated with the situation but urged them to adhere to the guidelines.
“We need our community’s help to be diligent for a little bit longer so that we can get ahead of this,” she told the Times.
The first case of the virus emerged in Washington state, which has had 870 deaths and over 15,000 cases.
News of these covert COVID parties there has disturbed health experts, who have battled chickenpox parties where parents hoped to expose their unvaccinated kids – a move the CDC “strongly recommends against hosting or participating in.”
While some frustrated Americans are hoping to ramp up their exposure to get the coronavirus battle over with, experts are trying to slow the spread as numerous states prepare to reopen.
Only 12 states are showing positive trends – but Washington is not one of them, with a 13 percent uptick in cases from April 27 to May 4.
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Despite rising cases in some areas, there are 43 states slated to enter the government’s phased reopening process by Sunday.
But authorities in Illinois also had to contend with rule-breakers who defied stay-home orders to attend a “massive” party in Chicago last month.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, one resident was arrested after authorities said he hosted a pop-up wedding in his Lakewood home.