Partygoer jokes about having coronavirus — then infects several others

A California birthday party guest who joked about having the coronavirus ended up sparking an outbreak — infecting at least four others who attended the gathering, officials said.

The party was held in Pasadena — after the city had already issued its March 19 stay-at-home order. Multiple extended family members and friends who did not wear face coverings or stay six feet apart attended, the city said in a news release.

The “index case” — or first patient identified with the disease — was coughing as she mingled with the other guests, according to the city.

“One person showed up to the party exhibiting symptoms and joking she may have the virus,” Lisa Derderian, spokeswoman for the city of Pasadena, said in an email to the Los Angeles Times. “The aftermath affected several others who became seriously ill because of one person’s negligent and selfish behavior.”

A local public health department disease investigation team used contact tracing to discover a half-dozen laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases among the guests, “and many more ill individuals,” according to city officials.

“This is an example of how good contact tracing can identify disease clusters and tell us more about the spread of disease in our community,” Dr. Matthew Feaster, a Pasadena Public Health Department epidemiologist, said in a statement.

“We’re grateful to our large team of public health nurses, case investigators, and contact tracers who help track the virus and prevent the disease from spreading to other members of our community.”

Officials are advising those 65 and older, or those with underlying health conditions, to stay home — even as some recreation areas in the city are beginning to reopen and select retail businesses are resuming curbside pickup services.

“Although we are moving forward with small modifications to the Safer at Home Order, gatherings of people who do not live in the same household are still prohibited,” Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, director and health officer for the public health department, said in the statement.

via: https://nypost.com/2020/05/11/partygoer-jokes-about-having-coronavirus-infects-several-others/

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