Despite the US being the worst-hit country in the world during the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of party-goers have attended a "Zero Ducks Given" party and ignored social distancing guidelines.
Scott Pasmore, a KTVK-3TV Arizona anchor, raised the alarm about the party on Twitter sharing the video below and writing: "No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks [sic]."
Watch the party in action:In an interview with CNN, an attendee named Jodi Akins said: "When we walked up my first words were 'oh my gosh' it was intense for sure. Social distancing was nonexistent. However everyone was enjoying themselves. It was a very carefree environment but security was heavy."
Organizers of the Zero Ducks Given party stated they had worked with government officials and management teams to create a safe environment for party-goers amid the pandemic.
Prior to the event at Backwater Jacks Bar & Grill, Osage Beach in the Lake of the Ozarks, the organizers said the bar would be operating at a reduced capacity, and attendants would be regularly sanitizing the bathrooms.
But bar owners Vicki and Larry Giampa told KRCGTV that they were concerned for the welfare of their staff and customers at the weekend.
Giampa said: "The last thing we need to do is close down again. I think everyone is trying but every one of these businesses between Osage and us, if we have another shutdown, I think half of the businesses close."
St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said that the footage of the party was "deeply disturbing".
In a statement, she said: "It's irresponsible and dangerous to engage in such high-risk behavior just to have some fun over the extended holiday weekend."
News of the party comes as lockdown measures around the US have been eased in every state, resulting in huge Memorial Day celebrations.
However, concerns about a lack of social distancing have now been raised by officials in various locations including Tybee Island in Georgia, Coney Island in Brooklyn, and Daytona Beach in Florida.
Per the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, at the time of writing, there have been 5,432,512 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide, and a global death toll of 345,442.