Reckless parking lot crowd is sabotaging Tri-Cities fight against COVID | Editorial

While slowing the spread of the coronavirus requires all Tri-Citians to do their part, it unfortunately only takes a small number of knuckleheads to sabotage the effort.

That’s why the recently released police video showing hundreds of teens and young people hanging out at night at Kennewick’s Highland Center is so upsetting.

They can be seen not social distancing and not wearing masks — pretty much disobeying all the rules the community is supposed to be following if we are ever going to get out of lockdown.

By now, there is no excuse for such recklessness.

And yes, we know many would say the kids are gathering in much the same way as protesters gathered in their call for social justice and police reform.

But Tri-Citians who participated in the protests were, for the most part, wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and trying to be careful.

It’s pretty clear from the video most of the parking lot crowd aren’t thinking about COVID-19, and many are clearly not being careful. At least one peeled out and sped down Highway 395 and nearly hit a pedestrian before being arrested, according to Kennewick police.

Blaring music, revving engines, spinning donuts and hanging out with friends might be considered typical teen behavior, but we are not living in typical times.

Wedding receptions and large gatherings after funerals have been canceled throughout the state. Who knows when music concerts, sporting events, festivals and other large crowd experiences will be allowed?

Certainly not until our COVID-19 numbers are much, much lower.

It can take just one infected person to cause an outbreak. Allowing hundreds of young people to congregate — even outside — risks setting the Tri-Cities back.

And that’s a shame because the community has been making progress. We’ve seen a recent drop in COVID-19 cases, and officials with the Benton Franklin Health District said it is possible kids could partially return to in-person school instruction later this fall if the downward trend continues.

School kids need to be in the classroom, businesses need to be able to fully open up and our hospital workers need a break.

We know that teens and young adults are restless and need somewhere to go and something to do. But the night-time “car show” — as it is known in the Tri-Cities — should be put on indefinite hold until our COVID-19 infection rate is considered manageable.

Too many Tri-Citians are making social and financial sacrifices so the community can rebound from the pandemic. Their efforts should not be undermined by people looking for a night of fun.

This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 4:00 AM.