More than 40 American spring breakers who ignored public health advice test positive for coronavirus

Dozens of young people who ignored coronavirus public health advice and mingled on a Spring Break trip in Mexico have tested positive for Covid-19.

Some 44 University of Texas Students have been diagnosed with the strain after a group of 70 people in their 20s chartered a plane to Cabo San Lucas for a holiday, the Austin Public Health Department said.

Other travellers in the group are being monitored. Four who tested positive did not have any symptoms.

Several students across the country defied US guidance and continued with Spring Break planes at the start of the outbreak. One student’s TV interview was widely shared online after he declared from a packed beach “If I get corona, I get corona". Brady Sluder, 22, who said he wouldn't let the virus "stop him from partying", later apologised for the comments on Instagram.

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I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I’m not proud of. I’ve failed, I’ve let down, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I can’t apologize enough to the people i’ve offended and the lives I’ve insulted. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, or pity. I want to use this as motivation to become a better person, a better son, a better friend, and a better citizen. Listen to your communities and do as health officials say. Life is precious. Don’t be arrogant and think you’re invincible like myself. I’ve learned from these trying times and I’ve felt the repercussions to the fullest. Unfortunately, simply apologizing doesn’t justify my behavior. I’m simply owning up to my mistakes and taking full responsibility for my actions. Thank you for your time, and stay safe everyone. ❤️

A post shared by @ bradysluder on Mar 22, 2020 at 10:34am PDT

At the time of the trip to Mexico, White House officials had asked that people avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 and also advised against non-essential air travel.

Austin public health authorities and the University of Texas at Austin have contacted every “Spring Breaker onboard the plane,” the city’s statement said.

Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said: “The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalised or dying.

"While younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from Covid-19.”

At the time of the trip, Mexico was not under a US federal travel advisory, but there was advice against non-essential travel.

The government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been reluctant to implement coronavirus restrictions that could adversely affect the economy and jobs, and only in recent days stepped up the message that people should stay at home.

Now Mexico’s usually packed beaches, bars and clubs have largely emptied after US authorities issued a ban on non-essential travel to Mexico, including for tourist trips across the US-Mexico land border.

Mexico declared a health emergency on Monday and issued stricter rules aimed at containing the fast-spreading coronavirus.