Topline
A country club in Long Island had its liquor license pulled by the state of New York Monday after it hosted a blowout wedding in October that led to dozens of new coronavirus infections, more than 150 people in quarantine and even temporary closures of several local schools.
Key Facts
North Fork Country Club will be barred from serving alcohol for hosting a wedding with 113 guests, more than double the 50 allowed under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order limiting gatherings, the state said.
A staggering 30 guests at the wedding later tested positive for the virus, along with three country club employees and a wedding vendor, according to the governor’s office.
An estimated 159 people were possibly exposed to the virus after the nuptials, and fears over the outbreak led to multiple area schools being shut down temporarily.
The tri-state area is bracing for a second wave of the pandemic, with New Jersey announcing new restrictions on Monday and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warning the city is “dangerously close” to another outbreak.
Crucial Quotes
“As we have seen in weddings and similar events across the country during this pandemic, large gatherings can easily be super-spreader events, too often with dire consequences,” Cuuomo said in a statement. “Hosting one of these events after all New York has been through is obnoxious and irresponsible—not to mention illegal.”
Key Background
Pandemic weddings have had devastating results. A summer wedding reception in Millinocket, Maine spawned a coronavirus outbreak that infected nearly 200 people and killed six. A pair of San Francisco newlyweds spent what should have been their honeymoon phase infected with coronavirus after holding a wedding that violated city orders. To stay safe, other couples have turned to tech by hosting an Animal Crossing wedding or even a FaceTime session with a rabbi to seal the deal.
Further Reading
Weddings In The Age Of Coronavirus: Couples FaceTime With Rabbi, Avatar Nuptials And More (Forbes)
De Blasio Warns NYC ‘Dangerously Close’ To Covid-19 Second Wave As New Jersey Imposes Restrictions (Forbes)
