Students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 have been attending parties in the city and surrounding area as part of a disturbing contest to see who can catch the virus first, a city council member told ABC News on Wednesday.
Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry said students have been organizing “COVID parties” as a game to intentionally infect each other with the contagion that has killed more than 127,000 people in the United States. She said she recently learned of the behavior and informed the city council of the parties occurring in the city.
What an interesting game. Kind of like Chicken but not as glamorous.
She said the organizers of the parties are purposely inviting guests who have COVID-19.
They pool their money, see, and whoever gets the fatal disease first gets the money. It’s not clear if the money is enough to cover their medical bills, or if the students check everyone’s health insurance before they can play.
Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith told the City Council on Tuesday that he has confirmed the students’ careless behavior.
Wrong word. “Careless” is the wrong word. They’re being careful, careful to spread the virus. The behavior is murderous rather than careless.
In a briefing to the City Council, Smith expressed concern that in recent weeks there have been parties held throughout the city and surrounding Tuscaloosa County, “where students, or kids, would come in with known positive,” according to a video recording of the meeting obtained by ABC affiliate station WBMA in Birmingham.
“We thought that was kind of a rumor at first,” Smith told the council members. “We did some research. Not only do the doctors’ offices confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information.”
And what is the state doing about it? Not clear. Maybe nothing.
Updating to add: Screechy points out that this is not what you’d call documented, and sounds like bullshit. Fair enough. Add whatever number of question marks you think appropriate.
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12 responses to “Tuscaloosa news”
That’ll totally pwn th libs. Good job, Branch Covidians!
Okay, Papito, you owe me a new computer. The coffee spewing out my nose ruined the old one.
Meanwhile, here in Arlington, VA, a woman was out walking her dog, wearing a rainbow Biden shirt, when a group of four teens, three boys and a girl, in an SUV with its top down (presumably a Jeep), slowed down so the boys could cough and spit on her (the girl was driving), and then sped away.
We’re all on board that this is bullshit, right?
I mean, you don’t seriously think that these “COVID parties” are taking place?
The source is a city councilperson, who says she’s heard about it. The fire chief says he has “confirmed” that others have the same information — which can simply mean that others have heard the same rumor.
Amazingly, dozens if not hundreds of teenagers have supposedly been attending these parties yet there isn’t a single direct account that “yes, I went to a COVID party” or “I was invited to one but had way too much sense.” Not one invitation or ticket or receipt or other documentation (how do they know who is the “winner” who gets paid?). Not one young person posted a video or photo to social networking?
Come on. These parties are as “real” as the “rainbow parties” that parents freaked out about a decade or so ago.
Hmm. Fair point. And yet, at a time when people are openly competing to see who can be Most Stupid…it’s not all that incredible on its face.
If it was just “teens are having parties in disregard of the pandemic risks,” I’d say absolutely. But “teens are specifically organizing parties with a prize to whoever gets it”? Dubious. Especially since we’re simultaneously being asked to believe that they’re dumb enough to do this, yet smart enough to keep all evidence off social media because they know who stupid it would look?
I mentioned rainbow parties, but I’ve also seen some folks compare it to some stupid urban legends that apparently circulated about gay men having AIDS parties back in the day.
Not that incredible to believe. How many kids have been bought up on measles parties and such.
Hm, that is a good point–if there’s money involved there would have to be lots of documentation, and explicit rules and agreements.
Rob — I mean, it’s not on the level of “extraordinary claims” like Bigfoot or psychic phenomenon. It’s humanly possible, and within the borders of human stupidity, which as we’ve seen recently are quite extensive.
My point is that there is not even ordinary evidence for this. It’s all rumor, in a situation where you would think that evidence would exist and would have been reported by ABC or some other outlet. I don’t know about measles parties, but I understand that chicken pox parties have been a thing, but those parents will actually brag on Facebook about it.
It’s the combo of “teens are so blasé about COVID that they’re pulling this shit” and “but there isn’t a single first-hand account or photo or writing about it” that makes me dubious.
Screechy, I agree that on the balance of probabilities it’s not what is claimed. All I’m saying is that it’s not inconceivable that it’s happened at least once. Could easily spin into a rumour of widespread practice since.
WIRED has this article debunking the story and wondering why it keeps coming back again.
https://www.wired.com/story/covid-parties-are-not-a-thing/
Even something as concrete as the firework mania lacks the kind of background knowledge required here. We know there really ARE explosions every night. But have no clear estimate of what, if any, meaning or purpose lies behind them.
Americans are stupid and defiant enough to maximize infection by accident.