State investigates after party held at ailing person’s home

The Arkansas Department of Health is investigating a party held Saturday and attended by as many as 40 people at the Russellville home of a person who was quarantined and who has since been confirmed as having the coronavirus.

“We’re aware of the party and working with involved individuals,” said Danyelle McNeill, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Health.

Ben Cross, county judge of Pope County, and Russellville Mayor Richard Harris released a joint statement Monday afternoon about the incident, and they included a stern reprimand.

“The COVID-19 virus is a serious enough issue to be deemed a global pandemic and has caused tens of thousands of deaths worldwide. This virus is very contagious and it is imperative that the citizens of Pope County and Russellville, AR take this issue seriously,” Cross and Harris said in the news release. “There are instances in our community that demonstrate a lack of appreciation for the seriousness of the virus and the protective measures that have been put in place to safeguard the public.”

Neither the person who tested positive for the virus nor the person’s roommates were named by Cross, Harris or the state Health Department.

“A disregard for the welfare of others in a situation of this type cannot be underestimated,” the news release said.

The Department of Health will conduct an investigation and is contacting those known to have been in attendance to direct them to the appropriate measures

for protecting themselves and the public from the spread of the virus.

Harris said in a separate interview that he learned of the party from members of the community who reached out to him. He said he asked the Russellville Police Department to investigate.

“ADH was notified of the information gathered,” Harris said. “I can provide no other comment.”

Attempts to reach the Russellville Police Department were unsuccessful as of late Monday.

Pope County Office of Emergency Services Director Justin Drittler said a list of names was turned over to the Russellville Police Department and that there were probably a maximum of 40 people at Saturday’s party.

“There have been a few parties like this,” Drittler said. “I’ve been shown pictures from other counties as well where there were a lot of people gathered in one place. One of my biggest concerns is that the stores are still open. Every time you drive by, there’s more and more people there.”

He added that people “need to start taking responsibility.”

“Stop going out in public if you don’t have to be there,” he said. “I understand people need to get groceries and prescriptions, but I think we just need to take more responsibility.”

Michelle Galli, a Russellville resident who attended Saturday’s party, said she is good friends with “three girls and a boy” who live at the home.

“All this time, there have been about five or six of us hanging out together,” Galli said. “But she [the one who tested positive] never hung out with us. She just stayed in her room. I’ve been over there countless times and she never hung out with us.”

Galli said she received a text message Saturday from one of the female roommates saying they were going to “hang out and drink.”

“She never really said it was a party,” Galli said. “She posted a picture of alcohol on her Facebook page and just said, ‘Hey, we’re drinking over here.’ A lot of people showed up, but it was never a planned party.”

Galli said she never saw the female roommate who tested positive for covid-19 for the duration of the gathering.

“She’s not the type to ever come out and hang out with us,” Galli said. “There was never any talk about the virus. Not just that night; there was just nothing ever said about it.”

Galli said she was contacted by a Health Department investigator and was tested Monday.

“I feel really regretful, just for being so ignorant,” Galli said. “I was more scared of going out in public than hanging out with my friends. I feel bad because I live with other people. I am regretful and feel like an idiot for exposing others.”

Galli said she’s encouraging everyone who was at the party to come forward to be tested.

“People are lying about being there,” she said. “I feel the truth needs to be out there.”

Anyone who attended the party, or one like it, is urged to contact the Arkansas Department of Health at 1-800803-7847.