Massive Crowd Ignores Social Distancing Guidelines to Attend House Party in Chicago

The party occurred in the city's COVID-19 epicenter.

Michigan Avenue remains mostly dormant due to coronavirus pandemic
Getty

Image via Getty/Timothy Hiatt

Michigan Avenue remains mostly dormant due to coronavirus pandemic

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot definitely isn't happy about this. 

Just when it seemed like quarantine regulations were starting to catch on, a video surfaced proving otherwise. Per TMZ, over 1,000 people met up on the West Side of Chicago for a party. Not only was this crowd way over the ten-person limit, they also ignored social distancing by jamming themselves into a house.

chicago house party on FB live last night 🤦🏽‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/rOYrQURcKs

— austinwhite 🌎☁️🌸 (@ustinwhite) April 26, 2020

1,000 Ppl At House Party In Chicago pic.twitter.com/gpyR3JbyDG

— Kollege Kidd (@KollegeKidd) April 26, 2020

The Chicago Police Department issued a statement on Sunday, letting it be known that the department is aware of the incident.

"We are aware of a video circulating on social media depicting a large house party inside of an alleged Chicago residence. While we cannot authenticate the nature or location of the gathering, we want to remind everyone of the social distancing requirements in place," the statement reads. "CPD will disperse crowds in violation of social distancing requirements, and if necessary, issue citations or as a last resort, enforce via arrest."

The party occurred in the city's COVID-19 epicenter. Although Chicago is actively working to combat the virus, the illness has hit African-American communities in the city's South and West sides the hardest. According to WGN, this has resulted in a disproportionate mortality rate among Chicago's black community with 49% of the city's coronavirus deaths being African-American people. 

"This upsets me because everyone is thinking about themselves and not others that they may be spreading it to,"  Chicago resident Jayna Lynn said. "Death just doesn’t seem like something to be serious about to most during this pandemic."

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