A group of young people, including some University of Alabama students, have reportedly continued to party despite testing positive for COVID-19.
At a meeting for the Tuscaloosa City Council, Fire Chief Randy Smith said health officials have confirmed that several "kids or students" with known coronavirus positives partied in the county and city regardless over the last few weeks.
Councilmember Sonya McKinstry says those with COVID were invited to the parties deliberately and students were betting to see who would be the first to catch the virus after the party. In a report from ABC NEWS, she says "they put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense," McKinstry said. "They're intentionally doing it."
Following that information, lawmakers passed an ordinance mandating the wearing of masks in public places.
The daily number of cases have been rising in several states lately, including in Alabama. Health experts says a majority of the new cases are coming from people ages 18 to 40.