NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Rockland County will subpoena eight young adults who are refusing to cooperate with contact tracers after attending a party linked to a COVID-19 cluster, officials said Wednesday.
A Clarkstown resident who had COVID-19 symptoms threw a "large party" last month anyway, Rockland County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said during a news conference on Wednesday.
Eight partygoers have since tested positive for COVID-19, but won't provide any information to tracers about people with whom they have come into contact, she said.
"My staff has been told that a person does not wish to, or have to, speak to my disease investigators," she said. "They hang up. They deny being at the party, even though we have found their name from another party attendee, or a parent provides us with the information."
The partygoers, all of whom are in their 20s, have refused to answer their cell phones or call back, she said. In a few cases, their parents "answer for their adult children and promise that they have been home consistently, when they have not been."
"Unfortunately, I am now forced by these circumstances to send subpoenas to the individuals who were required to cooperate with us," she said. "Failure to comply will be costly: about $2,000 per day."
Rockland County Executive Ed Day on Wednesday implored residents who have information about the party to "come forth willingly… so we can track down and interrupt this disease before it gets any worse."
Clarkstown police will be responding to "any location we believe will be having a house party on the Fourth of July," he added.
"Strict enforcement will be the order of the day," he said. "I will not allow… the health of our county (to be) compromised because of ignorance, stupidity or obstinance, or anything else for that matter."
