Originally published on NBC16.com, click for live reporter coverage.
EUGENE, Ore. — A now-viral photo shows hundreds of University of Oregon students partying over the weekend with no masks and no social distancing.
Mojo Hill lives nearby.
“It got bigger and bigger, and I looked out the window and thought ‘Wow that’s a lot of people, I should take picture of that,’” Hill said.
Housemates Lucy Stout and Katie Freeman live down the street.
“Seeing that many houses have all those people, it’s just shocking,” Stout said.
It’s speculated that once that party wrapped up, others traveled toward Hilyard Street to another house, where police ultimately responded.
Eugene Police said reports came in around 2:30 p.m. on May 1 about a party with more 100 people in attendance on 15th Avenue between Hilyard and Patterson streets, west of the Oregon campus.
“There were reports of no social distancing, males and females urinating in the front yard, and loud music,” according to police. “A woman was reported to have fallen off the roof around 4:36 p.m. and required medics. She was reported conscious and breathing. Eugene Springfield Fire EMS responded and transported her to a local hospital.”
Eugene Police said the department sent officers to help the University of Oregon Police Department disperse the crowd.
A keg and empty containers were still visible the following morning.
Stout says it’s becoming a regular occurrence, whether it’s covid fatigue students being overzealous after getting vaccinated.
“Just because you’re fully vaccinated doesn’t mean you should be having huge parties,” Stout said.
And yet, Lane County Public Health reports gatherings are the biggest driver of COVID-19 cases in Lane County, especially in 20- to 29-year-olds.
The University of Oregon says it sent an email about the changing county risk level and precautions.
UO’s office of student conduct and community standards is investigating.
Oregon has classified Lane County as Extreme Risk for COVID-19 – the most restrictive category. Gatherings are discouraged, and masks are required in public where physical distancing cannot be achieved.
Lauren Negrete 