The crowd, which appeared to be about 75 to 100 people, roamed outside The Oaks Mall – right next to a COVID-19 test center.
The group included people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Few, if any, could be seen wearing masks or distancing themselves from each other in aerial images from the AIR7 HD.
They apparently ignored repeated warnings from health officials across the region, urging people not to gather in groups and wear masks in public at any time, as patients with COVID-19 fill local hospitals to capacity.
Officials warned that such events could serve as “super-spreaders” that cause infections among a large number of people in a short period of time, with those people then infecting other family members and friends before they even know that they have the virus.
Officials at The Oaks Mall said the “irresponsible” event was not authorized by the mall and called for it to be moved.
“The event that took place at The Oaks at the moment is an unpunished event,” mall officials said.
“We continue to share our community’s concerns about these irresponsible – but constitutionally protected – events, and we have property law enforcement. We contacted the organizer to request that the event be moved.”
This is the second event hosted by the former actor “Growth of Pain” who became an evangelist. His first event was criticized for contributing to the spread of coronavirus.
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After the first event, Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de-Pena commented: “Freedom and liberty are very fragile and come with a great responsibility. Continuing to hold large meetings and ignoring all guidelines, I think, is un-Christian “.
In an invitation to Tuesday’s event, Cameron referred to it as a “peaceful protest.”
“Let your voice be heard in this peaceful protest praising the prince of peace,” Cameron wrote on social media.
Ventura County has recorded more than 200 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic and more than 31,000 cases in total. The county reported 2,049 new cases on Monday alone.
There are more than 300 patients hospitalized now for COVID-19 in Ventura County, with 68 in the ICU.
Health officials in Ventura County, like their counterparts across the country, have urged the public not to gather in groups outside their own homes and to wear masks outside the home at all times.
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“Our heroes are wearing masks! Shout out to the first ICU respondents who work 24/7 to serve our community,” county officials said in a COVID-19 update sent this week.
“Thank you, Ventura County, for helping them through disguise, social distancing and not gathering at this critical time. Let’s save lives and save companies by reducing the number.”
In addition, a COVID-19 outbreak in Ventura County prisons prompted the sheriff to order the release of 76 low-level offenders, who have less than 60 days in prison, in an effort to reduce the prison population and makes more space available for spacing.
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