State suspends liquor license of NYC restaurant that hosted 'COVID conga line'
A New York City restaurant had its liquor license suspended by the state after video emerged of a Christmas party in which Republican club members are seen dancing in a conga line while maskless days before several tested positive for COVID-19.
At least one person who attended the December 9 bash hosted by the Il Bacco Italian restaurant in Little Neck, Queens, on December 9 was hospitalized and at least two others were confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus.
The attendees were members of the Whitestone Republican Club.
In the footage, 16 maskless members of the club can be seen shaking their hips to the Bee Gees disco hit ‘You Should Be Dancing’.
The party was held despite Governor Andrew Cuomo banning large gatherings and indoor dining to prevent the spread of the virus.
Il Bacco Restaurant in the Little Neck section of Queens, New York, had its liquor license suspended by New York State after viral video emerged showing a party it hosted on December 9 which included maskless guests dancing in a conga line
Footage from the Whitestone Republican Club’s festivity – held in Queens on December 9 – showed maskless members forming a conga line and dancing to the Bee Gees
At least three people who attended a Christmas party in New York and danced in a conga line have tested positive for COVID-19, with one being hospitalized. James Trent (left), the chair of the affiliated Queens Village Republican Club, was admitted to North Shore University Hospital
Cuomo, a native of Queens, slammed the video, calling it a ‘COVID conga line.’
The governor and Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would be investigating the incident and fines could be issued to the restaurant and the club.
New York, which was the epicenter at the height of the coronavirus epidemic, has recorded 957,412 total infections and deaths in the state are now approaching 30,000.
The viral video sparked a backlash and prompted the New York State Liquor Authority to initiate an investigation.
‘During a follow-up inspection, investigators found flagrant violations of indoor dining regulations and existing health safety and Alcoholic Beverage Control laws, while verifying the maskless party depicted in the video did in fact occur,’ the SLA told WNBC-TV.
‘This summary suspension should send a strong message that we have zero tolerance for establishments that put New Yorkers’ health at risk.’
The SLA Board could impose further penalties, including $10,000 per violation as well as permanent revocation of its liquor license.
DailyMail.com has sought comment from Il Bacco restaurant.
According to the Queens Eagle, James Trent, the chair of the affiliated Queens Village Republican Club, was admitted to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset where he is recovering from COVID-19.
Another attendee and his wife have also tested positive for the virus. They have not been identified and no information about their condition was immediately available.
Trent said he started having COVID symptoms two days after attending the party.
He told the news outlet that doesn’t understand how he got COVID because he ‘wasn’t doing anything risky’.
Trent added: ‘I wasn’t on the conga line. I ate by myself,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how I got this.’
Trent said he was admitted into the hospital in stable condition and expects to be released Thursday.
In the footage from the party, one of the revelers is seen wa
ving a Trump 2020 flag as another proudly sports a Make America Great Again hat.
Many of the invitees were elderly, but appeared unbothered by the ongoing pandemic that has killed more than 341,000 people across the US.
More than 19.6 million people have been infected with the virus in the US.
The clip was first shared by journalist Matt Binder wrote: ‘The Whitestone Republican Club in NYC apparently held a Christmas party this year without a care in the world about COVID.’
Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters on a conference call after the video emerged: ‘I saw the video. COVID conga lines are not smart.
‘That is my official position. Why you would do an unmasked COVID conga line in the middle of a pandemic defies logical explanation.’
One of the women caught in the conga line was Vickie Paladino – a GOP candidate running to represent Queens’ District 19.
Paladino has not publicly commented on the footage.
Many prominent Republicans have long expressed their reluctance to wear face masks or tamp down on large indoor gatherings.
But the Queens County Republican Party canceled their holiday party due to the pandemic.
Queens County Republican Party Chairperson Joann Ariola told the Queens Eagle that her organization decided not to have a party this year.
‘As the chairwoman of the Queens GOP we made the responsible decision not to have an in-person holiday gathering,’ Ariola said.
One of the women caught in the conga line was Vickie Paladino – a GOP candidate running to represent Queens’ District 19. She is seen above in black
Two other people who attended the party have tested positive for the virus, but their identities are being withheld and their conditions are unknown
