Students in Alabama Play Sick Game, Throwing ‘COVID Parties’ to See Who Catches Virus

Health experts around the nation have been sounding the alarm as of late, fearing that the July 4th weekend could create an unmitigated medical disaster here in the United States.

That’s because, ironically, Independence Day comes at a time when much of our country faces the threat of a hellacious second wave of coronavirus that has already forced states such as Texas and Florida to pause or roll back their plans to reopen.  Daily case totals are growing nearly exponentially in several locales, and there has been plenty of doom and gloom coming out of the nation’s capital as well.

Should large crowds gather to celebrate this weekend, some areas could simply lose control of the situation.

But, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a group of students has decided to up the ante on ignorance.

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.

She said the organizers of the parties are purposely inviting guests who have COVID-19.

“They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense,” McKinstry said. “They’re intentionally doing it.”

And this is not some far-out rumor either, as several authorities from within Tuscaloosa have confirmed these stories to be true.

The city had previously enacted regulations that would require those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 to self-quarantine for 14 days, with fines of up to $500 being dished out to those who decide to ignore the guidelines.