What was supposed to have been a mini-vacation over the weekend to the beach resort town of Myrtle Beach, S.C., for about 100 D.C. teens has resulted in numerous new coronavirus cases, says Dr. David Goodfriend, Loudoun County Health Department director.
Goodfriend told a local ABC News affiliate that health officials have begun seeing more and more positive test results for the teens after their return home, adding that at least one group said there were about 40 people staying in one house and they were having or attending parties with over 100 people inside the house.
In reaching out to Myrtle Beach City Manager John Pederson to express his concerns, Goodfriend said that from a public health standpoint, as well as from one of county government, had health care officials been aware of the test results occurring in Loudoun County or Northern Virginia, they would have looked into the root cause — including how they would work with businesses.
Pedersen, who said he receives about 75 to 100 emails daily regarding COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, added that some of them advise wearing masks and others say not to wear them.
Meanwhile, additional coronavirus outbreaks connected to Myrtle Beach have led officials in other states to tell residents to quarantine when they return or to avoid the resort town altogether.