‘The party can wait’: Kansas City teen expresses regret over event that spread COVID

A Kansas City teen who helped promote a July 3 party in Cass County identified as the source of five coronavirus cases says far more of the 400 people who attended are likely sick.

The Cass County Health Department announced Friday that a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases is linked to the party that took place between between Harrisonville and Garden City near Missouri 7 highway.

Cole Wood, one of the partygoers who helped promote the event on social media, said at least 10 people, including himself, have experienced symptoms but haven’t been tested yet. He promoted the party through a flyer on social media, which the other organizers then posted on their accounts, but he never expected crowds to get that large.

When partygoers Wood didn’t know poured in about 30 minutes before the start time, he knew it would be big.

A few days later, Wood felt too cold to fall asleep without covers. Then he developed a fever and cough. He has an appointment scheduled Wednesday to get tested for COVID-19, he said. His friends who tested positive developed similar symptoms.

Right now, he’s quarantining at home and on his second week taking time off from his job at a local QuikTrip. He wears a mask in his home and stays in his room most of the day to avoid coming in contact with his mom and her fiance.

Wood said he thought about social distancing concerns and other precautions when the group was planning the party over a group text, but no one brought it up. He had also attended a party in Pleasant Hill the week before that he said was shut down by local police within about an hour and a half. But he liked the idea of a fun Fourth of July outing with his friends.

Cass County has told residents to avoid large gatherings, social distance by at least 6 feet and wear face masks whenever around people. Confirmed coronavirus case numbers spiked in the county between June 28 and July 4, with over 30 confirmed cases that week, according to the county health department website, which tracks weekly case numbers.

Wood said he took social distancing guidelines more seriously back in March. Then after months in quarantine, he hadn’t known anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 and because of his lower risk age range, he didn’t think anyone would get sick.

The party, he says, was an “eye-opener” that anyone could get sick and the risk is still there.

“We all feel bad for causing this little outbreak that has happened,” he said. “We feel like we should have been more responsible. Told people to wear masks or something. Not invited everyone.”

Because the party didn’t have a guest list, officials said it has been difficult to track every potential exposure. Local health officials are asking anyone who attended the party to quarantine for 14 days and monitor their symptoms. If they develop symptoms, officials said attendees should contact their primary health care providers or the health department directly at 816-673-4618.

Wood hopes that by speaking out about his involvement in the party, more young people will take responsibility and choose to quarantine and get tested.

“The party can wait,” he said. “It’s not worth people getting sick and spreading it.”

“It’s not just some virus we hear about on the news,” Wood said. “It’s affecting our homes. It’s affecting our town.”

This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 7:54 PM.