Syracuse, NY -- Having a party, celebration or other social gathering of any sort is now a crime in Onondaga County under a new emergency order issued Friday evening.

County Executive Ryan McMahon placed holding a party under the same criminal ban as breaking coronavirus quarantine: it’s a misdemeanor punishable by a short jail sentence.

“Non-essential gathering of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed,” McMahon’s order reads.

“Any person who knowingly violates this Local Emergency Order shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor and subject to additional civil action," he added.

Related: Who’s enforcing social distancing? What if I refuse?

The order ramps up local government’s enforcement of statewide social-distancing directives. Until now, McMahon had relied on the governor’s directive to stay six feet apart from others in public.

The county executive had publicly scolded a group of people for having a tailgating party Wednesday on the closed Radisson golf course in Lysander. He wondered aloud what the punishment should be for violating social distancing directives.

This photo of people illegally tailgating -- in defiance of social distancing orders -- was sent to the Onondaga County officials.

While not specifically banning people from standing too close, his order comes a lot closer to enforcing everyday social distancing than previous orders had.

There are 123 confirmed coronavirus cases in Onondaga County, as of Friday afternoon. Of those, six patients are in critical condition, with 18 total in the hospital.

“This order is necessary to provide for social distancing to safeguard the public health and welfare, and necessary to assist in controlling the disaster effort,” McMahon’s order concludes. “This Order is intended to comply with all laws and regulations, state and federal, and shall be read and interpreted in such a manner.”

Sheriff Gene Conway said early Friday that deputies would handle each social-distancing complaint individually. He did not threaten arrests, but said he expected the public to follow lawful orders to disperse.

McMahon has said that he expects to have to make “an example” of some large gathering, such as a house party, to make it clear he’s serious about social distancing.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.