COVID-19 Positive Man Charged For Allegedly Coughing On Hospital Staff

The police have charged a COVID-19 patient who allegedly coughed on hospital staff Saturday (April 11). The officers were summoned to the St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut after the hospital reported the issue. The investigators identified the coronavirus patient as Robert Gordon, 30, who wasn’t following rules and instructions issued by the hospital workers.

The disruptive person was reportedly noticed arguing with the hospital staff. The police reported that Gordon eventually removed his protective face mask and started to cough purposely in the direction of some of the hospital staff, Fox News reported. He was arrested and charged with five counts of breach of peace and was released on a promise to appear on his pending court appearance, as per NBC Connecticut.

In a similar incident, a Pennsylvania woman who claimed she was tested positive for COVID-19, allegedly spat and coughed on food at a local grocer. She was charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, retail theft and terroristic threats and weapons of mass destruction, Times-Tribune reported. Due to this incident which occurred at Gerrity Supermarkets, an estimated $35,000 worth of food had to be tossed out.

“I have the virus. Now everyone is going to get sick,” Fox 19 Now quoted 35-year-old Margaret Cirko who coughed and spat on food and merchandise at the local grocer as saying.

Earlier, a video had also emerged from a CCTV that had recorded a man licking his hands and touching car door handles. The video comes as a warning asking people to disinfect their vehicle’s door handles.

“I'm bringing to your attention guys, there are people walking around in the middle of the night, walking into people's driveways and touching the door handles of cars. As you can see that guy there just gone into the neighbor's driveway, now coming into my driveway and now you can see him coming towards my driveway, touching his mouth, and then touching the door handle,” Daily Mail quoted the video’s narration.

Coronaviruses can survive up to 3 days on surfaces and it is important that everyone takes precautionary measures such as wearing face masks, regular handwashing and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, lift buttons and car door handles, etc.