"COVID-19 Not Contained" Hundreds Flock to Pools and Beaches in US Holiday

Crowds Gather at Popular Resort Causing Commotion
Police Dispatched and Parking Lot Emergency Closure
US Health Authorities Say "Coronavirus Not Yet Under Control"

On the 23rd (local time), dozens of people gathered at a party held at a swimming pool near Ozark Lake in Missouri, USA. / Photo by Twitter Capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] As the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the United States approaches 100,000, concerns about mass infections are growing as Americans going outside during the Memorial Day (25th) holiday show lax social distancing.

On the 25th (local time), according to U.S. media 'CNN' and others, Arizona local broadcaster Acker Scott Passmore posted a video on his Twitter the day before showing a pool party scene.

The pool is near Lake Ozark in Missouri, known as a famous summer resort in the U.S. In the video, dozens of men and women in swimsuits are closely packed together swimming or drinking beverages.

Passmore explained, "There is no concern about COVID-19 at Lake Ozark."

Tourists gathered at Lake Ozark are crowding under the social distancing notice. / Photo by Twitter Capture

As the video spread, some netizens expressed critical reactions toward people who went to the resort. One netizen pointed out, "This kind of irresponsible behavior will affect all of us." Another wrote, "It's a foolish act," adding, "I'm worried about what will happen in three weeks."

Several state governments and health authorities, including Missouri, still recommend social distancing but are struggling to disperse crowds gathered at resorts.

In some areas, clashes occurred between police trying to disperse crowds and the people.

According to U.S. media 'The Washington Post,' on the 24th, a crowd gathered all at once on Tampa Beach in Florida, prompting the government to take emergency measures by closing beach parking lots. The day before, about 200 people held a street party on Daytona Beach, causing police to rush to the scene.

As cases of ignoring COVID-19 prevention rules continue to emerge in some states, health authorities have expressed concerns. Steven Hahn, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tweeted on the 24th, "The coronavirus is not yet under control," urging, "Please follow the rules such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks."

Meanwhile, according to Johns Hopkins University, as of the 25th, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. was 1,639,870, with 97,599 deaths reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.