Hosting house parties within Yazoo City are becoming a major problem as the COVD-19 cases continue to rise. One house party that police officers responded to in the city had up to 400 guests in attendance.
Interim Police Chief Jay Winstead said homeowners who host these house parties are being issued citations.
“People who want to gather and party, for lack of a better word, don’t realize that they are subjecting everyone else, who are taking measures to social distance and stay home, to the possibility of contracting COVID,” Winstead said. “At these parties, people are gathered and clustered on top of each other, taking no precaution what so ever.”
Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, officers responded to three major house parties within city limits. A house party on West Jefferson Street had up to 400 guests, Winstead said. Winstead also said a house party on Jackson Avenue, which continued well after midnight, also held a very large crowd.
“A fight broke out at the house party on Jackson Avenue,” Winstead said. “Officers first responded to that call, before breaking up the party.”
The Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department also assisted the Yazoo City Police Department in responding to both the Jefferson Street and Jackson Avenue parties.
A third party was being held on Webster Street Extension.
“That particular party had the street blocked off, and people were parking in other neighbors’ yards,” Winstead said.
Winstead said that he personally saw no one taking social distancing and safety precautions at the three large parties.
“I am shocked and amazed that some people think COVID is over, and they are willing to host parties of that magnitude,” he said. “The COVID order is still in effect with a 9 p.m. curfew. The younger community needs to wake up and realize that COVID cases are rising daily. Hosting events like this only make it worse.”
Winstead said he appreciates the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for everything they are doing to set guidelines and precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The community has to hold itself accountable,” Winstead said. “The lawful need to rise up and take the streets back from the lawless.”
Winstead encourages the public to report any house parties in their neighborhood to the police department by calling 746-1131.
