The New York Police Department has charged nine people with misdemeanors and health violations in connection to a Halloween party in East Williamsburg. The group of nine allegedly held a party with nearly 400 people in the big apple. Photos of the celebration show many attendees standing close together without masks. The city’s sheriff’s department says organizers violated COVID-19 guidelines.
10/31/20 @ 0100HRS: Deputy Sheriffs shut down illegal bar/party inside warehouse at 23 Meadow Street, Brooklyn: 387+ people violation of emergency orders, 9 organizers charged with multiple misdemeanors, Administrative Code, Health Code & Alcoholic Beverage Control Law offenses. pic.twitter.com/qKxvqRtpWt
— NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) October 31, 2020
The Halloween party comes at the tail end of what has been a tragic week during the pandemic. On Friday, nearly 100,000 people tested positive for the virus. Throughout the week, the U.S. reported nearly 70,000 positive cases per day. In New York, COVID-19 related hospitalizations continue to rise. As a result, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is now strengthening COVID-19 statewide protocols. Most notably, he is now requiring non-New York residents to test negative for COVID-19 three times before entering the state. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has encouraged residents not to travel over the holidays.
“I have to urge all New Yorkers: Do not travel out of state for the holidays,” de Blasio said.
“Do not travel to a state with a high infection rate. Do not travel to a country with a high infection rate.”
