THOUSANDS of young people attend rave Halloween party in Utah sparking fears of a COVID-19 spike - as event organizers urge attendees NOT to get tested because it'll provide 'ammunition for more restrictions'
Authorities say they busted as many as 10,000 people attending a rave-like Halloween party in Utah at the weekend, which has sparked fears of a COVID-19 outbreak with event organizers urging attendees not to get tested.
The party, which was advertised as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions, was held on Saturday night in a remote area near Utah Lake, just south of Salt Lake City.
Law enforcement estimate that between 3,000 to 10,000 young people, many of whom weren't wearing masks, attended the party.
In Utah County where the party was held, gatherings are currently limited to 10 people or less and masks are required.
The state has seen record spikes in COVID-19 cases, as well as hospitalizations in recent days with the number of confirmed infections now totaling 117,700.
Coronavirus deaths have also been increasing in the last week.
Law enforcement estimate that between 3,000 to 10,000 young people, many of whom weren't wearing masks, attended the party in a remote area near Utah Lake, just south of Salt Lake City
The party, which was advertised as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions, was held on Saturday night in a remote area near Utah Lake, just south of Salt Lake City
Footage of the event posted on social media showed a stage with a DJ, as well as a professional sound system and lights.
Authorities only discovered the party after paramedics were called to the area when a young woman was knocked unconscious while crowd surfing.
There were also several car crashes that authorities had to deal with as partygoers fled the area.
The organizers cooperated with law enforcement when the party was shut down and no one has been arrested.
Authorities, however, are considering whether to charge the organizers for hosting the large gathering without a permit and violating a public health order.
The event was billed as a protest against the current coronavirus restrictions that limit gatherings of people.
The organizers, Utah Tonight, posted on social media urging those who attended not to get tested for COVID-19.
The party, which drew in crowds of thousands of young people, was advertised as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions
The majority of the crowd did not wear masks when they attended the Halloween party in the remote Utah location
Law enforcement estimate that between 3,000 to 10,000 young people, many of whom weren't wearing masks, attended the party
'Let's get life back to normal by not getting tested for COVID-19,' the post read.
'If you are sick, stay home (they don't usually give you treatment anyway).
'Getting tested simply provides the mob with more ammunition to control our lives. 2021 is on the line.'
A promotional flyer for the event stated that attendees 'assume all risks associated with COVID-19'.
The event came just weeks after Utah Tonight publicly said they were canceling the event after it gained public attention.
Organizers said at the time that authorities and the media were to blame for the event being canceled.
'We find it both disheartening and concerning that some within our society have allowed fear to supplant basic rights of assembly, giving individuals within the media and some public servants the ability to control what we consider to be a 'pursuit of happiness,' the group said.
Footage of the event posted on social media showed a stage with a DJ, as well as a professional sound system and lights
Authorities only discovered the party after paramedics were called to the area when a young woman was knocked unconscious while crowd surfing
The state has seen record spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent days with the number of confirmed infections totaling 117,700
The Utah County Health Department issued a statement in the wake of the party that criticized the actions of organizers.
'As we struggle in our local and statewide communities to contain the COVID-19 virus and mitigate its impacts on our communities, it is unfortunate that some would ignore public health and medical guidance and plan and participate in an event that would allow for the ready spread of the disease between individuals which can then be taken back by these individuals to our communities and infect others who are trying to follow public health and medical recommendations,' the statement said.
'The organizers of the Halloween Protest are encouraging the direct opposite of public health and medical guidance. They claim to want to get life 'back to normal.'
'Their actions and the actions they are encouraging will cause a further increase in COVID-19 cases and push the time of 'back to normal' that much further away.
'The actions of the organizers and attendees are dangerous to themselves, our communities, our health care system, and our efforts to combat COVID-19.'