The world has taken drastic measures to reduce the chance of coming into contact with COVID-19. Between stay-at-home orders, mandatory mask policies and socially distancing from others, we’ve all basically made it our goal to not get the virus.

Well, most of us.

Apparently, students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama have done the opposite and have decided to make it a contest to see who can be diagnosed with COVID-19 first. The way they do that? People with the virus have been attending parties around the area to intentionally infect other people to win money. The phenomenon has been deemed “COVID parties.”

“They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense,” said Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry. “They’re intentionally doing it.”

“We thought that was kind of a rumor at first,” said Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith. “We did some research. Not only do the doctors’ offices confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information.”

While it’s unclear if students with the virus had successfully infected others at their parties, officials are making an effort to break up any COVID-19 parties they become aware of.

“It’s nonsense,” McKinstry said. “But I think when you’re dealing with the mind frame of people who are intentionally doing stuff like that and they’re spreading it intentionally, how can you truly fight something that people are constantly trying to promote?”

The state has a rule that anyone who tests positive must quarantine for 14 days and those in violation can be fined up to $500. We’ll see if that really helps these students!

To hear more about COVID-19 parties, check out the video below.

What do you think of what these students are doing? Do you know anyone who has attended a “COVID-19 party”? What are you doing to help limit the spread of coronavirus?