Car parades become new way to celebrate in COVID-19 lockdowns — but not in some cities

With parties a definite no in coronavirus stay-home orders, people have turned to car parades to celebrate birthdays, graduations and other momentous events.

Now some cities and counties are cracking down on those, too.

“That was never really envisioned as something that would be allowed, because from a public health perspective, you want to minimize public gatherings,” said David Campos, deputy county executive for Santa Clara County in California, KPIX reports.

The San Francisco Bay Area county recently updated its stay-home guidelines to clarify that car parades or car caravans are not allowed.

“Parades, ceremonies, and similar gatherings with people outside your household are not allowed, even if everyone stays in their cars,” the rules say.

And Santa Clara County’s not alone. Officials in Broome County, New York, have issued a similar warning, WENY reports.

“I understand that a lot of people are trying to spread — trying to be positive during these challenging times,” said Jason Garnar, county executive, according to the station.

But a state stay-home order bans unnecessary travel and public gatherings.

In Ohio, Mike Samet of the Hamilton County public health office encouraged people to hang on just a little longer, Spectrum News reported. Parades are banned there.

“You can see that we’ve really lowered the curve, we’ve kept the pressure off our hospital systems, and we’ve done a fantastic job in Ohio so far, minimizing the damage that coronavirus can do and we just need to keep that up a little while longer,” Samet said, according to the publication.

In Burlington, Canada, processions of more than five vehicles are banned, Global News reported.

“Some concerns around if people are queuing up in advance for one of these events, are they going to be tempted to get out of their car? Talk to each other? We’re all so cooped up,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, according to the publication.

But some don’t see a problem with the parades.

“If you’re not harming people in the process, why not do it?” said David Edyus of San Jose, KPIX reported. “It’s just additional restrictions, I don’t quite see the value behind them.”

The bans are a special problem for police and fire departments, some of which have taken part in parades.

“These are tough times, and if we can put smiles on people’s faces for a couple of minutes that’s what we’re here to do,” said Police Chief Scott Noel of Blue Ash, Ohio, Spectrum News reported.

“We’re letting serious criminals out of our jails, and you expect me to threaten to cite and arrest otherwise law-abiding citizens for just walking on the street?” said Police Chief Eddie Garcia of San Jose, The Mercury News reported.

“That’s not credible, and that’s not going to happen,” Garcia said, according to the publication.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Car parades become new way to celebrate in COVID-19 lockdowns — but not in some cities."