Floyd County Public Health: Car cruises not a good idea

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The “car cruises” that have taken place in Charles City the past two Friday evenings might have been an opportunity for bored residents to get out of the house and have some fun, but that might have not been the safest way to do it.

In a press release Monday, Floyd County Public Health stated that it strongly opposes and is asking the public not to promote events such as organized car cruises, as those things are not essential.

“The temptation with events like car cruises is to congregate in parking lots, stand along the curb, pull up to each other and talk out of the window, or have friends get in the car with you,” Floyd County Public Health said in the release. “There are photos on social media demonstrating this is happening.”

The release stated that critical part of containment of COVID-19 is practicing social distancing. Social distancing describes specific actions individuals can take to stop or slow the spread of an infectious disease.

“It is OK to get out of the house, but do activities like going for a walk or a bike ride,” the release said. “The better we can practice social distancing today, the sooner we can get through this.”

Local public health officials have encouraged individuals to practice social distancing in their everyday lives over the last few weeks. This includes things such as staying home as much as possible and leaving only for essential errands. While Floyd County Public Health doesn’t have the authority to shut down planned events such as the car cruise, it still can recommend and encourage individuals to take action on their own.

“The government mandates some activities, like business or school closings, but individuals can also take personal responsibility to social distance in their everyday lives,” the release said. “This includes staying home as much as possible, avoiding groups, and leaving home only for essential errands.”