Gloucester Twp. Police Warn Against Large Parties Amid Pandemic

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township police have received calls of large backyard pool parties that are being advertised and promoted on social media, police said Thursday afternoon.

The parties are being staged by a promoter and resident, and admission is being charged to the parties, police said. Police didn't provide specific details as it relates to the parties.

People attending these parties are not observing social distancing or other health measures set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

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As a result, police said these parties are contributing to the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday, there were 885 cases of the coronavirus in Gloucester Township with 57 confirmed deaths. This included seven new cases announced on Thursday, including:

• Three men in their 50s;
• A woman in her 20s;
• A woman in her 50s;
• A woman in her 60s; and
• A man in his 40s.

In Camden County, there are 9,052 cases and 549 confirmed deaths. This included 42 total new cases countywide announced on Thursday.

The parties Gloucester Township police referenced are also disruptive to the neighborhoods in which they are being held. These neighborhoods are not designed to handle the large volume of parking and loud music, police said.

“We will strictly enforce all applicable laws for public safety,” police said. “Do your part to end this COVID-19 pandemic by avoiding these for-profit, promoted party events which helps spread the virus.”

Police are reminding residents of the following public health guidelines:

• Outdoor gatherings must be limited to 500 people and social distancing must be practiced. There are no limits for First Amendment-protected outdoor activities, such as political protests of any persuasion or outdoor religious services;
• To save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and stay home if you are sick; and
• Face coverings are required in indoor public spaces and in outdoor public spaces when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Additional requirements for outdoor gatherings include the following:

• Require attendees to be six feet apart at all times, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners;
• Prohibit contact between attendees;
• If the event is an organized gathering, the organizer should demarcate six feet of spacing in the area of the gathering to demonstrate appropriate spacing for social distancing;
• Prohibit sharing of any physical items provided and require sanitization before and after each use; and
• Require contactless pay options wherever feasible.

See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know