Authorities break up ‘sex party,’ mass gatherings amid COVID-19

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A “sex party” attended by around 30 people in New York, United States was stopped by authorities as a part of their effort to reduce large gatherings amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Since more and more videos of parties appear on social media — which more often than not show attendees without any masks and violating social distancing protocols — New York City authorities have been boosting their efforts to track down these gatherings.

The New York City Sheriff’s Office has been responding to tips related to parties violating quarantine measures, as per ABC last Thursday, July 30. The alleged sex party was suppressed because of one such tip.

The event occurred on July 24 in Midtown Manhattan. According to the authorities, the person who supposedly organized the event is scheduled to appear in court soon.

New York City’s Phase 4 regulations prohibit indoor gatherings with more than 50 attendees, as per report. Anyone who attends such events is still required to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier this month, deputies also reported spotting crowds drinking and partying along a major street in Queens.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo similarly expressed his horror after seeing videos from a concert in the state that show “egregious social distancing violations,” via Twitter on July 28.

“We have no tolerance for the illegal [and] reckless endangerment of public health,” he said.

Videos from a concert held in Southampton on Saturday show egregious social distancing violations. I am appalled.

The Department of Health will conduct an investigation.

We have no tolerance for the illegal & reckless endangerment of public health.https://t.co/gf9kggdo8w

— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 28, 2020

The New York State Liquor Authority has reported over 130 COVID-19-related violations from July 24 to 26. A total of 45 businesses have also had their liquor licenses revoked due to violations, Cuomo told the TV network.

Despite challenges to COVID-19 measures from various groups in the U.S., a professor at Columbia Law School, Richard Briffault, stressed that the imposed restrictions are justifiable from a legal standpoint.

“These orders are pretty consistent with powers a governor or mayor has to take, steps to protect public health,” he was quoted as saying. “There is no fundamental right to party.”

The COVID-19 emergency orders in the U.S. have a scientific basis, Briffault explained in the report. It should then hold up in court unless there are allegations of select enforcement of the law against certain groups of people. Cha Lino/JB

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