Photos and videos of large crowds gathering on New York’s Fire Island over the July 4 weekend are drawing the ire of hundreds on social media.
Officers from the Suffolk County Police Department were called to the beach in Fire Island Pines twice on Saturday regarding reports of a large number of people failing to social distance or wear face coverings as they partied in the sand.
Numerous videos have since been shared across Twitter and Instagram documenting the troubling scenes at the popular vacation spot, showing cohorts of dwellers stood closely together without masks on.
Suffolk County police said officers walked through the gathering and reminded people to social distance, however no citations were issued.
One attendee, Corey Hannon, even bragged on social media that he had recently contracted COVID-19, but, after only quarantining himself for eight days, he decided to flock to the beach party regardless.
Photos and videos of large crowds gathering on New York’s popular holiday destination Fire Island over the July 4 weekend are drawing the ire of hundreds on social media
One attendee, Corey Hannon, even bragged on social media that he had recently contracted COVID-19, but, after only quarantining himself for eight days, he decided to flock to the beach party regardless
In a since deleted Instagram post, Hannon is heard saying in the video: ‘You know what, I did have COVID. Everyone knows I had COVID, and you know what I did? I sat in my f***ing bedroom and quarantined myself for eight f***ing days. And suffered through COVID. And now I’m out celebrating. So go f*** yourselves. I hope all of you get f***ing COVID, you nasty, nasty trolls.
The 27-year-old New Yorker detailed his alleged battle with coronavirus often on Facebook in the days before his trip to Fire Island.
On June 30, he wrote, ‘Random as hell but feeling grateful! 11:18 p.m. Day 7 and my body has decided it is done with COVID-10 [sic]. Praying I wake up tomorrow with this good feeling and it’s not just a tease.’
Three days later, on July 3, Hannon uploaded a list of essentials he was packing to take to Fire Island, writing: ‘All ready to get the f*** out of the city to Fired Island to celebrate the f***ed up thing we call America.’
Just a day afterwards, Hannon shared on Facebook that he was starting to feel sick again, remarking ‘F*** you, Miss Rona. I thought I was cured,’ accompanied by several crying face emojis. All of the posts have since been deleted.
Another of the attendees of the party, identified as Giancarlo Albanese, uploaded an image to his public Instagram page celebrating his apparent defiance of state social distancing guidelines.
‘F*** your mask. F*** your social distancing. F*** your vaccine. F*** your eugenics,’ Albanese wrote. ‘Kiss my a**hole if you think Im an a**.’
In a statement to DailyMail.com on Sunday, Hannon apologized for his comments and actions, insisting he would ‘never maliciously hurt someone.’
In a statement to DailyMail.com on Sunday, Hannon apologized for his comments and actions, insisting he would ‘never maliciously hurt someone.’
Another of the attendees of the party, identified as Giancarlo Albanese, uploaded an image (above) to his public Instagram page celebrating his apparent defiance of state social distancing guidelines.
The gathering Hannon attended was one of several on Fire Island reported on social media Saturday. Other images showed dozens gathered during what appeared to be a house party on the Island on Saturday night.
‘Spending the beginning of my 2020 homeless to now living in a beautiful apartment in Hells Kitchen, I’m not some privileged, arrogant, uneducated person. I’m a very well educated, humble, passionate human being who made a poor choice and for that I am sorry.’
Hannon added that he’d claimed to have had COVID-19 on social media because he was reportedly told by his physician that he ‘most likely had it’.
‘I chose to be on the safe side and live and act as if I had it. When the symptoms subsided so rapidly, I began to think maybe I didn’t. I made a mistake and now realize I should’ve stayed in longer.
‘I am still not feeling any symptoms and have not since last Wednesday. When I posted that I wasn’t feeling well, while on the beach, it wasn’t a COVID symptom. I was simply not feeling well from the heat. After being severely dehydrated from Covid mixed with 90 degree heat, it didn’t settle well,’ he continued.
The gathering Hannon attended was one of several on Fire Island reported on social media Saturday. Other images showed dozens gathered during what appeared to be a house party on the Island on Saturday night.
In the image, shared by Vega on Facebook, none of the attendees are wearing masks and stood closely together with some even with their arms around one another.
Long Island, once deemed a major hot spot for coronavirus, is currently in Phases 3 of the state’s reopening plan and county officials are currently gearing up to implement phase 4 on Wednesday.
State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday issued a reminder to local governments to continue to enforce social distancing rules.
‘As we end this holiday weekend, I urge everyone to be New York Tough: wear a mask, socially distance, use hand sanitizer and continue the smart practices that have made our state a national leader in combating this virus,’ Cuomo said. ‘I also remind local governments of their duty to enforce the standards that have made [New York’s] reopening safe and successful.’
Unlike other major cities across America, New York City has seen an improvement in coronavirus numbers over the past few week weeks.
Locals expressed their worries and frustrations on Twitter that the scenes on Fire Island could lead to a second surge of coronavirus.
‘Hey @NYGovCuomo how about informing Fire Island that all these people need 2 stay there in quarantine for 14 days b4 they can come back 2 the city due 2 their carelessness. #fireisland,’ wrote Lucy Ortiz.
‘So, it would be AMAZING if all of you who are in Fire Island to keep you’re a**es there for the next 14-21 days, get a COVID test and after you get results exit quarantine like a responsible citizen. You are responsible for your actions. Stay where you are,’ added Adam Antium.
Vinny Vega, a NY promoter and COVID survivor, also criticized Saturday’s scenes in Fire Island.
‘So many people are flat out refusing to adjust to the “new normal.” Guess what…everyone in this photo, and anyone at this party…2020 has been a hard year for the ENTIRE F***ing PLANET,’ Vega blasted.
‘Delusional, sociopathic mindsets in our current sociopolitical climate are resulting in spiking numbers of Covid-19 cases/deaths. THIS IS NOT A JOKE: THIS IS SERIOUS. CARE MORE.’
Locals expressed their worries and frustrations on Twitter that the scenes on Fire Island could lead to a second surge of coronavirus.
No citations were issued at Saturday’s beach party, local police have said
The United States dipped under 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time in four days, but experts have said Independence Day celebrations will likely act as rocket fuel for the nation’s surging outbreak.
Johns Hopkins University, which tallies confirmed cases, counted 45,300 new coronavirus infections in the U.S. on Saturday.
The new count came after three days in which the daily count reached as high as 54,500 new cases.
The country was reporting under 20,000 new infections a day as recently as June 15.
Experts warned, however, that the lower figure on Saturday does not necessarily mean the situation in the U.S. is improving, as it could be due to reduced reporting on a national holiday. They also expect a further spike after the long weekend.
The United States has the most infections and virus-related deaths in the world, with 2.8 million cases and nearly 130,000 dead.
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alaska, Missouri, Idaho and Alabama all registered new daily highs on Friday, while Texas hit a new peak for hospitalizations.
Florida health officials on Sunday said the state had reached a grim milestone: more than 200,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
State statistics show about 10,000 new people tested positive – a record new single-day high. More than 3,700 people have died.
Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases in the state has increased by 5,323 – an increase of 184.1 per cent.
About 43 per cent of the cases in Florida are in three counties: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.