Hundred of partygoers made their way to a small island on a Michigan lake for the annual Jobbie Nooner party despite recent warnings from Dr. Anthony Fauci after recent upticks in younger people getting COVID-19.
The Friday party on the Gull Island in St. Clair County had smaller crowds than the usual thousands that come, but still had large numbers of young folks.
Local law enforcement monitored the partiers but acknowledged that social distancing was not followed and not policed.
‘Everyone is just out for a good time and it’s a peaceful event. And since many of them are departing from Macomb County docks, we are out there to make sure they get to their destination safely and return from them,’ Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said, The Detroit News reports.
The Friday party on the Gull Island in St. Clair County had smaller crowds than the usual thousands that come, but still had large numbers of young folks
Videos and photos show revelers partying both on their boats, in the shallow waters and on the sands of the island
There were multiple law agencies at the actual party, besides the sheriff’s department, according to WXZY.
They included St. Clair County Sheriff Marine Division, US Coast Guard, US Border Patrol, Michigan DNR, Clay Township Police and Fire and Algonac Fire.
Sgt. Marty Stoyan, with the St. Clair County Marine Division, felt that the virus would spread among partiers.
‘I for sure see that this is a very big possibility of spreading the COVID,’ he said.
Social distancing was not enforced because authorities felt there was no way they could try to control so many people
Sgt. Marty Stoyan, with the St. Clair County Marine Division, felt that the virus would for sure spread among partiers
‘I for sure see that this is a very big possibility of spreading the COVID,’ he said of the partying
The party has become a mainstay in the area, first started in 1974 by autoworkers.
Videos and photos show revelers partying both on their boats, in the shallow waters and on the sands of the island.
While weather started off clear for the day, forecast predict that thunderstorms could eventually hit the area.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order to fight the virus says people should stay 6 feet away from people who don’t live in their households, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Violations can carry 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
Whitmer has warned that if people fail to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines the spread of the disease will increase.
While weather started off clear for the day, forecast predict that thunderstorms could eventually hit the area
The massive island party comes as Dr. Fauci issued a stark warning for young people, who may feel ‘invulnerable’ to the coronavirus
The party has become a mainstay in the area, first started in 1974 by autoworkers
Dr. Fauci issued a stark warning for young people, who may feel ‘invulnerable’ to the coronavirus.
‘If you get infected you are part innocently or inadvertently of propagating the dynamic processes of a pandemic,’ he told them.
There has been a sharp drop in the age of infected people, and multiple officials warned Friday about concerns younger people would transmit the virus amid states opening up and relaxing social distancing.
The-79-year-old told younger people: ‘Although you may feel well, and because we know if you look at the numbers that you are probably here later on, the overwhelming majority now of people getting infected are young people, likely the people that you see in the clips and in the paper who are out in crowds enjoying themselves – understandably, no blame there, understandably – but the thing that you really need to realize, when you do that, you are part of a process.’
‘When you have an outbreak of an infectious disease, it’s a dynamic process that is global,’ Fauci instructed.
No people or groups organized the event known as the Jobbie Nooner, which attracts boaters from across the state
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order to fight the virus says people should stay 6 feet away from people who don’t live in their households, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Violations can carry 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine
Partiers could be seen jumping on floatation devices as they enjoyed their time out on the water
‘I just want to bring this out without making it seem that anybody is at fault, you have an individual responsibility to yourself – but you have a society responsibility, because if we want to end this outbreak, really end it and then hopefully when a vaccine comes and puts the nail in the coffin – we’ve got the realize that we are part of the process.’
‘When you get infected, you will infect someone else who clearly will infect someone else,’ he noted.
He said what was most challenging about COVID-19 was the high percentage of people who don’t show symptoms but still spread the virus. That means young people going out to restaurants or bars as states reopen could be spreading the virus without even knowing it.
Photos show revelers partying both on their boats, in the shallow waters and on the sands of the island
Thousands of boaters gathered out on Lake St. Clair on Friday for Jobbie Nooner
The event has become one of the top 10 boat parties in the nation