Police in Rockland County to crack down on large Fourth of July holiday parties

Rockland County officials say they are also hearing that some people involved in the Clarkstown cluster of coronavirus cases are either planning to attend or host July 4th celebrations.

News 12 Staff

Jul 2, 2020, 10:21 AM

Updated 1,485 days ago

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Police in Rockland County will be cracking down on large Fourth of July holiday parties that violate the state guidelines.
The news comes after county officials linked a cluster of coronavirus cases in Clarkstown to a house party in West Nyack around June 17.
Officials say eight people tested positive after attending the West Nyack gathering, which was made up primarily of 20-year-olds.  Officials would not comment on the severity of their symptoms. They say there were more people at the party than was allowed for gatherings at that time. But health officials say what's even worse is that the host of the party was showing COVID-19 symptoms, but had the party anyway. 
News 12 was told that after the event, there were two more parties held in New City involving many of the same people.  
Rockland County officials say they are also hearing that some people involved in this cluster of cases are either planning to attend or host July 4th celebrations, and they say not only is that a violation of isolation and quarantine—but it means putting so many others at serious health risk.
"We are deadly serious. I will not allow, to have the health of our county compromised because of ignorance, stupidity, or obstinance, or anything else for that matter," says Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
Health officials are worried that number will grow because some of the party goers are not answering phone calls from the health department or cooperating with contact tracers.
At least eight subpoenas are being sent requiring people to cooperate. If they don't, they're looking at fines of $2,000 a day - - a similar tactic was used during the measles outbreak.
This is not the only cluster the Mid-Hudson region is dealing with. Nineteen cases have been confirmed in Westchester County following a high school graduation and parties in Chappaqua.
 
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