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A large crowd of people who attended a wedding in Chicago, Illinois, have been criticized as "selfish" by officials after a video of the ceremony spilling out onto the streets emerged.
The clip shows a large group of people standing in close proximity outside the home in West Ridge on April 23.
Many of those seen in the footage are not adhering to social distancing guidelines issued amid the coronavirus outbreak, but many are seen wearing protective masks.
The clip was recorded by a local rabbi who later took down the video from social media after it attracted too many negative comments, reports WGN.
The rabbi said police eventually arrived to disperse the crowd after around 15 minutes.
The clip was condemned by Alderman Debra Silverstein, of Chicago's 50th Ward.
"I received reports of a wedding that happened in our community yesterday, which required the police to come and disperse the crowd," Silverstein said in a statement.
"I am absolutely horrified. Social distancing is not a suggestion. It is the law and it saves lives.
"We are at a critical juncture in the coronavirus outbreak, where we have a chance to flatten the curve and stop the spread of this horrible disease.
"Selfish gatherings of people, whether in celebration or in prayer, not only give our community a bad name, but they send our neighbors and loved ones to the hospital or morgue."
The Chicago Rabbinical Council and Agudath Israel of Illinois also condemned the those gathering at the wedding for committing an "unjustifiable and dangerous error," in a letter seen by Block Club Chicago.
"This celebration was an egregious breach of those [public safety] standards. It was the first such breach, and we are committed to ensuring that it will be the last," the letter adds.
The Block Club Chicago previously reported that West Ridge has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 in the entire city.
Chicago Police have been contacted for comment.
There are more than 988,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., with 56,253 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. A total of 111,583 people have managed to recover from the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
This map, provided by Statista, shows the confirmed cases of COVID-19 by state.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more