TAMPA – New Year’s Eve festivities erupted in the Tampa Bay area on the same day as Florida broke its coronavirus caseload record, with more than 17,000 cases joined in a single day.
Administration and agencies on both sides of the bay encouraged residents to celebrate safely. Tampa Mayor Jane Caster tweeted advice to stay home From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. Petersburg City told residents on Twitter: “Celebrating NYE virtually or with members of your own household (who are constantly taking steps to reduce the spread of Covid-19) has the lowest risk of spreading.”
But crowds gathered at Uber City, Chanelside, St. Petersburg, and local bars to party that looked almost pre-coronavirus – in terms of a few masks and a bit of social distance.
Videos posted on social media show DJs playing for large crowds indoors and can find party tables, with some masks on them.
Crowds dance shoulder to shoulder outside the Coyote Ugly Salon in Tampa. At 2:30 a.m., as Uber City Clubs closed, partygoers took to the streets
Attempts to reach some of the clubs and bars shown in the photos by phone and social media on New Year’s Day were unsuccessful.
The anti-actors of the night attracted critics and carriers on social media. Some tweeted photos of the booming crowd, while others wondered what effect it would have on the area’s hospital capacity.
Coronavirus cases are likely to continue to rise after the New Year’s holiday as younger people bring the coronavirus back into their multi-generation homes, said Dr. John Smith, a professor of public health and family medicine at the University of South Florida. Said Marisa Levine.
“If any of these young adults that we’re seeing at these parties are bringing it home to those types of homes, that’s where we run the risk of more serious cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths,” Levine said.
Levine hoped that “people will protect them” and stick to small, outdoor gatherings with face masks to celebrate the holiday.
“I’m not terribly surprised because every holiday we’ve only recently seen similar approaches.” “But we were not in this position before, we have a record case. And we’re also trying to mount a vaccination campaign, which would be hampered if there was a strain on our healthcare system and potentially continued overload. It can definitely end our ability to vaccinate people. ”
In addition, a modified version of the virus, which is more transmissible than the original strain, has already entered Florida and could spread to packed crowds, Levin said.
“I think there could be all the possibilities in the next few weeks to months, as many have said there are some black days,” Levine said. “We are already seeing our hospitals under stress. We have seen the case move forward. We have seen hospitalizations. In all likelihood death will also continue to increase. “
The epidemic disrupted the traditional Times Square celebration that usually draws a million people to watch the ball drop on the streets. The Washington D.C. government banned the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. to keep the party to a minimum. And in Florida, Broward County imposed a 1 p.m. curfew for residents to return home.
But still, there were large-scale parties across the state. CBS Miami reported that there were crowds of benefactors at South Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach, although the cities stopped their typical huge celebrations.
Social media posts feature the Winwood Wall and Arts District of Miami where participants watch live music and dance. Hundreds of people filled the streets of South Beach for the holiday, some with masks, many not.
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