Kansas City, St. Louis leaders urge lakegoers to quarantine
O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Leaders in Kansas City, St. Louis and the state of Kansas urged people who partied close together at Lake of the Ozarks over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for two weeks, amid fears that the gatherings documented in social media postings will lead to a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Big crowds were reported at swimming pools, bars and restaurants at the central Missouri lake that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Video and photos posted on social media showed people without masks partying and swimming together in close proximity, seemingly ignoring guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from the state, to keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart. At least some of the images showed people in the Anderson Hollow Cove area of the man-made lake that's been nicknamed “Party Cove.”
It wasn't clear whether any businesses or people would face reprimand. An order from the state health director leaves it up to local and state health officials to enforce social distancing. Phone and email messages left Tuesday with the state health department and health administrators in Camden and Osage counties were not immediately returned. A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined immediate comment and said he would address the issue in his afternoon news conference.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page asked the county’s health department to issue a travel advisory, citing concerns raised by residents and employers just as the county was beginning to reopen after weeks of closure.
“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,” Page, a Democrat, said in a statement late Monday. “I encourage everyone to follow the Department of...
