Man Tests Positive For Coronavirus After 400 People Attend His Party

A teen who helped to plan a 4 July party which attracted around 400 people has tested positive for coronavirus.

Cole Wood, who lives in Harrisonville in Missouri, admits that he didn't give the virus much consideration, but now 21 people who attended his event have tested positive.

He told ozarksfirst.com: "A lot of people showed up and we didn't really think twice about the whole virus, 'it won't happen to us', you know? I believe around at least 300, but could be closer to 400."

Wood is now quarantining himself after experiencing symptoms and taking a test, which came up positive.

Fox4News

He said: "I had two to three friends at the same time come up to me like, 'Hey, I'm sick.' I said, 'I am too, that's weird.'

"We started putting two and two together and were like, 'This could be bad.'"

Authorities are asking anyone who attended the party to self-isolate for 14-days and to keep a close on eye on themselves in case they develop any symptoms.

Andrew Warlen, director of Cass County's health department, has said the cluster is likely to have started at the party and says that while the partygoers may be fine, there are concerns for their older family members.

He told the news outlet: "For these kids, I have no doubt that most of them are going to have mild to no symptoms, but really the problem is I can't say the same for their parents or their grandparents or their teachers."

He added: "I think the overall message is, even though things are reopening, we're not back to normal. Avoiding large gatherings is a really good idea."

Facebook/City of Harrisonville, MO

Wood said he wasn't expecting so many people to arrive at the party, which took place on 3 July, and that seeing people get sick has been an 'eye-opener'.

He told kansascity.com: "We all feel bad for causing this little outbreak that has happened. We feel like we should have been more responsible. Told people to wear masks or something. Not invited everyone."

Warning others teens who are thinking of getting together, he added: "The party can wait. It's not worth people getting sick and spreading it."

"It's not just some virus we hear about on the news. It's affecting our homes. It's affecting our town."

Topics: Coronavirus, US News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19