After a clip of Floyd Mayweather and fellow partygoers crammed together in an Arizona nightclub went viral, Scottsdale mayor, Jim Lane, has released an official statement on the importance of maintaining social distancing during the pandemic. Earlier this week, footage of the retired boxer partying at International Boutique Nightclub in Old Town Scottsdale made its rounds on the Internet, as he and others were visibly not wearing masks and were certainly coming within 6 feet of one another. Although Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey did allow some establishments to reopen for business a few weeks ago, he established strict social distancing guidelines that are evidently not being followed by this nightclub.
After coming across the viral footage, Mayor Lane issued an official statement regarding this reckless conduct. Although he does not direct his message at Mayweather specifically, it was given to TMZ as a response for a request for comment about Mayweather.
"The images from Old Town Scottsdale this weekend are disturbing, and frankly show a real lack of common sense and civic responsibility," Lane told TMZ. "Businesses and their patrons need to realize that individually we each play an absolute part in our own personal hygiene, distancing and health courtesies, and each of us also plays a significant part in our city’s health, both physically and economically. This disease is spread between people—and personal actions determine whether public health guidance is effective in blunting the spread of COVID-19."
"We succeeded together in preventing our medical services from being overwhelmed," he continues. "It was a costly effort; many businesses and individuals paid a huge cost for the success we have had to date. It is imperative that all businesses comply with the governor’s executive orders—to ignore them is to risk faster spread of this disease and further damage to our physical and economic wellbeing. In responding to reports about non-compliance to the governor’s orders and public health guidelines, we educate businesses and solicit their cooperation first. I am personally reaching out to the businesses that were shown over this past weekend to be open with large crowds, so that I can discuss with them the importance of our continued progress. If we choose to respect one another as part of a community effort, we will bring the city and the country back."
"There are other steps that can be employed under the state and city emergency declarations if needed—we take these matters very seriously," he insists. "Now more than ever we need people and businesses to do the right things. Stay home if you are sick or have any symptoms of illness; wash or sanitize your hands frequently; stay six feet away from others wherever possible and cover your nose and mouth when you can’t keep your distance."