More than 20 teens tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a house party on July 11, Middletown Health Department spokeswoman Tara Benson told CNN.
The party goers were 15 to 19 years old, Benson said.
Earlier this week, health officials attempted to contact parents and teens to locate them, but said their response was “less than satisfactory.”
Parents have been more responsive ever since, a statement from Middletown Health Department Director Rich DeBenedetto says in part: “We have received a great response from parents who were unaware of the situation and grateful that they were able to address it. with your kids and make sure they get tested / quarantined. ”
At a press conference Thursday, Governor Phil Murphy warned residents, especially youth, not to congregate indoors.
“Congregate, even if you are a young and healthy person, and you can be asymptomatic and think you are invincible, you cannot congregate closely inside,” Murphy said Thursday.
The governor is now urging anyone who has attended the party to show up and speak to health officials.
“To be perfectly clear, this is not a witch hunt to uproot anyone who has been drinking minors, although we do not condone underage drinking, and remember friends, it is illegal. But this is not This is a race against the clock to ensure that everyone who has been exposed to the coronavirus is identified before infecting anyone else, “Murphy said.
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