Hours after videos of crowded pool parties at the Lake of the Ozarks sparked outrage across the country, the mayor of one lakeside city said he was concerned, even if there was little he could do about it.
Videos circulating on social media showed why he might be worried: Hundreds of people flouted social distancing guidelines in the region’s pools and bars throughout the Memorial Day weekend, something public health officials feared. It ignited worry that the gatherings would cause new coronavirus outbreaks.
John Olivarri, mayor of Osage Beach, a town of about 4,000 people nestled on the eastern edge of Lake of the Ozarks, said he did not think it could be prevented or stopped.
“My concern is for our workers and whether some of the folks that have come down might be creating a health problem for the community, absolutely,” Olivarri said Sunday. “But the only other thing that you could do would be shut it down. I don’t know how you would shut down Lake of the Ozarks. There’s no way to control that.”
https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article242969686.html