TAMPA, FL – Law Enforcement Today has learned that some students from the University of Tampa have contracted COVID-19 after returning from their Spring Break partying.
Well, color us shocked.
Five students have tested positive for COVID-19, as noted by UT, after they traveled together for Spring Break. The university did not elude to where exactly the students traveled to or whether they lived in the dorms on campus.
The announcement was revealed by the school on March 21st, and it was listed that the students who tested positive have voluntarily isolated themselves. Just last week, the university had shifted from normal classroom operations to an online model to help thwart the spread of the virus.
UT took to Twitter to wish the recently infected students a speedy recovery from the virus.
UT has been notified that five UT students, traveling together and with other UT students during Spring Break, have tested positive for COVID-19. We sincerely wish our students, and any others who may be affected, a full and rapid recovery. https://t.co/MXl4e1v3gh
— The University of Tampa (@UofTampa) March 21, 2020
While the school didn’t comment on where the students traveled or what they were up to while on break, you don’t need a college degree to employ some deductive reasoning.
This announcement happens to coincide with the same timeframe that portions of Florida played host to numerous college-aged cretins disregarding social distancing guidelines while partying it up.
Major party destinations within Florida, like Miami Beach, shut down the pubs, beaches, and several other locations that typically attract large congregations since they couldn’t rely on the youthful demographic to adhere to common sense guidelines.
UPDATE: All beaches, parks & recreational facilities are CLOSED citywide until further notice by order of @MiamiDadeCounty: https://t.co/PdLE3UohVW #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/9izUcrBd49
— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) March 19, 2020
Much like Eddie Murphy’s fictional girlfriend he sang about alongside Rick James in 1985, the students who like to “Party All the Time” managed to get Governor Rick DeSantis to address the issue.
While appearing on Fox & Friends on March 19th, Governor DeSantis delivered the following message to those who are looking to raise the roof in Florida:
“The message, I think, for spring breakers is that the party’s over in Florida.
You’re not going to be able to congregate at any beach in the state. Many of the hotspots that people like to go to, whether it’s Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Clearwater Beach, are closed entirely for the time being. the bars are closed so you’re not going to have a place to congregate there.”
From what the governor of Florida said, anyone looking to get down and party can simply “come back next year”.
Still, despite how contagious COVID-19 has proven to be in recent weeks, this story proves that the only thing more contagious than the virus is stupidity.
And here I thought college was supposed to make people smarter.
We reported earlier this past week about the crowds of people gathering in Miami Beach, even when the CDC was telling people to stop “Spring Breaking.” But the crowds weren’t the biggest part of the story: It was the armed suspect shot by police.
An encounter between an armed man and police inside of a hotel lobby in Miami Beach ended with a suspect being shot. I guess you could say that’s one way to end spring break with a bang.
1 person hospitalized after police-involved shooting in Miami Beachhttps://t.co/FKh843ubOs
— Jacey Birch (@JaceyWPLG) March 16, 2020
The popular destination for spring break goers and college kids looking to consume several libations while enjoying the view of the beach turned into a near-fatal encounter for an armed man inside a hotel lobby on March 14th.
At roughly 8:30 p.m. that evening, 22-year-old Jonathan Hall was spotted by a bartender working inside the Barbizon Hotel on Ocean Drive. The bartender said Hall had a gun tucked in his waistband.
The bartender working the lobby notified the hotel’s management, who later reached out to the Miami Beach Police working nearby.
MORE DETAILS – Rescue crews have taken a man to the hospital after, officials said, he was injured in a police-involved shooting in South Beach that took place as officers clear out parts of the beach in an effort to help stop the spread of #coronavirus. https://t.co/XzJd6XRNa8
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) March 15, 2020
When the officers made their way into the hotel, they immediately encountered Hall.
Police attempted to administer verbal commands to the suspect, who was allegedly failing to comply. According to Miami Beach Police Union President Kevin Millan, Hall made an “overt act” which prompted a response by police to fire on the suspect.
However, Millan did not divulge what commands officers administered to Hall, nor did he state what the overt act was, just that the three responding officers reacted with gunfire.
The suspect was then rushed to a nearby hospital. The last reported update on March 15th listed him as still being critical condition. No others were injured in the gunfire.
Locals fled the scene after the officers’ guns went off.
Hours removed from #MiamiBeach taking steps to shut down the #SpringBreak party on South Beach due to public health concerns there’s this following a shooting…@wsvn pic.twitter.com/uoqdlUEiar
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) March 15, 2020
When speaking to the Miami Herald about the incident, Millan noted the following:
“The bottom line is that if you come out here and you have a gun and you don’t comply with officers’ commands, they are going to be forced to take action to safeguard themselves and the public.”
One of the guests inside the hotel at the time, Michael Swanberg, stated that he was watching TV in his room when the gunshots rang off.
He described the chaos that ensued saying people were stampeding in the streets and flipping tables to flee the scene once the gunshots were heard.
He also said:
“Dozens of cops and a SWAT team came in instantly.”
Here’s the most disturbing video I’ve seen so far of tonight’s #SouthBeach stampede after a shooting. #MiamiBeach #SpringBreak @wsvn pic.twitter.com/cOAEDeGDTJ
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) March 15, 2020
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber explained how the tourist attraction aspects of his city is also contributing to their inability to combat COVID-19’s spread:
“Now that there’s no school and every college has made this decision, we’re now in a position that frankly is going to be very challenging. Unfortunately, they are a group that doesn’t feel as threatened [by COVID-19] as our seniors, who are listening to our directions conscientiously.”
According to local news crews in the area, portions of the city have been getting shut down in light of COVID-19.
With said closures, locals have become frustrated at the idea of entertainment-based outings being upended.
The shutdowns have impacted areas like South Beach, which has put a stop to large congregations, upsetting the party-goers who frequent the beach.
One local stated the following on that note:
“How are you going to make us leave at 5 o’clock, you know what I mean? The beach is still light out. I’ve got a pineapple with me. I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I’m not going to argue the law, but I just don’t understand it.”
Even though popular spots have been flagged for non-assembly in Miami Beach, locals have noted that the crowds will simply find somewhere else to congregate.
Yet, according to Mayor Gelber, he’s saying that “spring break is over” when it pertains to his city: “We’re hoping that people go to their rooms and go home. We don’t want this crowd here for spring break. We don’t want them.”
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