Party of more than 1,000 people broken up by police near Florida State University

Police officers in Tallahassee, Fla., broke up a gathering of over 1,000 people, with officials responding to over a dozen calls of large crowds in the Florida city over the weekend amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

“The crowds ranged in size, including one with approximately 700 vehicles and more than 1,000 people gathered outside,” the City of Tallahassee Police Department said in a Sunday statement. Officers dispersed the crowd with assistance from a Leon County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.

The gathering was outside a student apartment complex that is approximately two miles from Florida State University, the Miami Herald reported.

Nearly 1,500 Florida State University students have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the school. Forty-six students tested positive last week.

University officials have called on students to practice social distancing, wear face masks or coverings and take other health precautions.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) last week proposed a “bill of rights” for college students in response to schools punishing students for hosting gatherings amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“I understand that universities are trying to do the right thing,” the governor told reporters at a press briefing at the Capitol in Tallahassee. “But, I personally think it’s dramatically draconian that a student could get potentially expelled for going to a party. That’s what college kids do.”

Florida has reported over 701,000 COVID-19 cases across the state and over 14,000 fatalities, according to The New York Times.