Health Officials Ask Partiers At Lake Of The Ozarks To Self-Quarantine

Health officials in Missouri are asking hundreds of people who attended a massive pool party at the Lake of the Ozarks to self-quarantine. Videos from the party showed attendees celebrating the holiday weekend while completely ignoring social distancing guidelines. People were packed into the pool at Backwater Jack's, while most of them were not wearing masks or staying six feet apart.

According to KSHB, the guests had their temperature checked when they entered, and the bar's owner, Gary Prewitt, said he would try to keep people from gathering in large groups.

"So keeping people apart six feet, we don't know who's in groups, who's in families, we expect them to do that on their own," Prewitt said. "We won't let large groups gather over 10 -- at least try not to -- and speak to them to spread out a little bit more."

Although the partygoers refused to adhere to proper social distancing protocols, Camden County Sheriff Tony Helms issued a statement saying that no laws were broken and that social distancing guidelines cannot be enforced by the police.

Authorities in St. Louis County issued a travel advisory and said they were concerned that the party could undo the progress that has been made slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

"This reckless behavior endangers countless people and risks setting us back substantially from the progress we have made in slowing the spread of COVID-19," Dr. Sam Page, the county executive, said in a statement.

They are worried that people who live in the St. Louis area may have been at the party and risk spreading the virus when they return home. They said that anybody who attended the party should quarantine for 14 days and asked employers to monitor their employees' health, especially if they traveled over the long weekend.

"Anyone who didn't practice CDC, DHSS, and KCMO Health Department social distancing guidance should self quarantine for 14 days if they have any compassion for others," Dr. Rex Archer, director of the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department tweeted.

Photo: NBC News


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