Crowds gather at Kissimmee, Florida parties to broadcast COVID-19, sheriff says

KISSIMMEE, Florida – Deputies in Osceola County, Florida, have been busy breaking the so-called COVID-19 parties, and hundreds were caught on video.

Sheriff Russ Gibson told WFTV-TV attendees that they are planning to contract the virus or do not care if they do.

“We are going to have additional patrols, especially when we know that these parties will be tonight, tomorrow night,” Gibson said. “Generally speaking, it’s on the weekends.”

Video of a sheriff’s helicopter showed people dancing and socializing in the middle of residential streets in the Kissimmee area. Vacation properties are being rented for the holidays, the sheriff said.

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Despite close contact, Gibson said his office does not have much power to stop what is happening.

“These are CDC recommendations and that is what we are doing, but they are not breaking the law,” Gibson told WFTV. “There is no law.”

Gibson said additional patrols were planned as noise complaints increased.

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