Teen Goes To Night Club After Testing Positive For COVID-19, Forces 150 People Into Quarantine

A 19-year-old is facing a police investigation after it came to light that he went clubbing hours after testing positive for COVID-19. The nightclub has been shut down, and over 150 clubgoers were forced into quarantine after the incident.

Authorities said the teen visited the Loverboy nightclub on Hindley Street in Adelaide, Australia, on Friday night. Shortly before that, he had received a notification saying he had tested positive for COVID, reported ABC News.

Reports said he received the first message Friday night, which read: "Your COVID-19 test on 17-Dec-2021 is POSITIVE. This means that you have COVID-19. You will be contacted by SA Health soon. You need to go/stay home and isolate yourself immediately."

A second text received nine minutes later notified him that he was required by law to isolate immediately. However, the teen allegedly chose to ignore the message and go clubbing instead.

Since the incident, the club has been listed as an exposure site, and anyone who was in attendance that night has been instructed to quarantine themselves and to get tested immediately. The club has also been shut down.

"As far as we are aware, a patron knowingly entered our venue having tested positive to COVID earlier that evening and then continued to stay for the duration of the night, putting all 150 patrons, staff and their families in harm's way," the statement read.

"Christmas is supposed to be a time to celebrate with family and loved ones; however, because of the actions of one selfish person, that won't be the case for many," the club owner told ABC News.

The club owner said that "someone knowingly entering somewhere with a positive result should be considered an offense" and they will be "seeking justice."

Authorities said the police were aware of the positive case and investigations were underway into whether the man breached the state's Emergency Management Act. "If an individual appears before a court and is found guilty of a breach of a direction, the penalty is up to $20,000 or imprisonment for two years," a police spokesperson was quoted by the news outlet.

Meanwhile, reports said the teen has taken to social media to post an apology. Currently quarantining at a hotel, he wrote: "I have admitted to my mistakes and am truly apologetic."