More than 100 students told to self-isolate after attending illegal college party

An illegal college party in America has potentially exposed more than 100 students to coronavirus.

The gathering of students, which took place in a rental home off the Clemson University campus on Friday night, was shut down by police who abide by the United States' strict social-distancing guidelines.

While no attendees of the private event received a fine, they were informed they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Mary McCormac, an attorney and resident of Clemson city, set a letter to the father of the student who hosted the party, outlined how his son's actions had "threatened the well-being of students and residents."

"Decisions like that made by your son and/or his roommate not only endanger the public health, but can destroy the hard work already done by the community," McCormac's letter states. 

"I respectfully ask you to speak with your son and his roommate to discourage behaviour like this in the future," she said.

She added the party could "destroy the hard work already done by our community", and that the man "consider the property to be contaminated with the virus" and his son to have been exposed.

McCormac urged the property owner to instruct his son and the party's attendees to "immediately self-isolate for at least 14 days" to avoid any risk of transmitting the virus.

The attorney finished her letter by claiming she didn't want members of the town to suffer from the virus as a result of the party — "including your son and his friends."

Public gatherings have been severely restricted across the globe as nations battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Situations similar to this house party have been seen in Australia, with beaches shut down after hundreds flocked to Bondi Beach in Sydney and St Kilda in Melbourne.

The University of Clemson has since released a statement saying officials had been made aware of the illegal party, criticising its contribution "to unsafe conditions in excess of the numbers permissible under current state regulations."

The University confirmed any student found responsible for gatherings larger than three people would be subject to disciplinary action through the university's code of conduct, as well as potential sanctions by local law. 

Police officers are working to enforce social-distancing guidelines at private residences amidst the pandemic, with the assistance of the University.

Echoing the world's move towards stricter social-distancing measures, the city imposed a voluntary curfew between 11pm - 6am and closed public playgrounds. 

The South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster issued an additional home or work order, which stipulated people stay home or at work unless visiting family, exercising or obtaining essential goods or services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended gatherings are limited to three people.

There are currently 434,927 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States.