Despite calls from health officials to remain socially distant during the long weekend, crowds still flocked to popular spots on Memorial Day. In the face of rising cases of coronavirus throughout the U.S. and Canada.
A pool party featuring dozens of people without masks in the Lake of Ozarks went viral over the weekend, with the majority not wearing face coverings and hung out close to each other as seen in photos and videos. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued a statement urging all residents and visitors to be cautious and remain socially distant, as the state currently has 11,988 confirmed cases and saw a 6.2% jump in new cases over the last week.
Similarly, police said they had to break up several crowds in Daytona Beach in Florida, where in one instance roughly 200 people were packed on a street. Volusia, Florida, which contains Daytona Beach, has 663 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Monday, according to data from the Florida Health Departmen. Police stressed social distancing as the area’s beaches reopened, however crowds still appeared on beaches west of Tampa. Many didn’t appear to wear face coverings in Clearwater Beach.