Doctor who ignored coronavirus arrested after allegedly coughing on colleagues
An American doctor has been arrested after he allegedly deliberately coughed on his co-workers as the country grapples with huge numbers of coronavirus cases.
Dr Cory Edgar, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at UConn Health in Connecticut, was charged with breach of peace on Thursday.
UConn Health spokeswoman Jennifer Walker told the Daily Mail that witnesses told police Dr Edgar "intentionally coughed on two other medical employees at the health centre in close proximity".
Witnesses believe the doctor "was purposely disregarding space and safety concerns involving the coronavirus pandemic".
Police arrived at the hospital and issued Dr Edgar his summons on Thursday morning at about 10am.
Ms Walker added that Dr Edgar "has confirmed that he is in excellent health and does not to his knowledge have Covid-19".
"UConn Health is aware of the situation. We take all such allegations seriously and the matter is currently under review," a statement from the hospital read.
"We can also state that any UConn Health employee with an indication of illness is asked to stay home, and during this pandemic all employees are screened for symptoms prior to entering the premises."
It comes after another Connecticut man coughed on a state trooper before claiming to have coronavirus, reports the Providence Journal.
On Sunday a New Jersey man was charged with making a terroristic threat after he intentionally coughed near a supermarket worker.
Live updates on COVID-19 cases near you
England: 4,792
- London: 2,433
- Midlands: 808
- South East: 590
- North West: 496
- North East and Yorkshire: 446
- East of England: 452
- South West: 278
Scotland: 499
Wales: 418
Northern Ireland: 149
Another man, also in New Jersey, was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct for trying to cough on police officers while he was being arrested on a domestic violence charge, the Hartford Courant reports.
The US recently overtook Italy as the country with the highest number of coronavirus cases, with more than 100,000 people having tested positive for Covid-19.
1,546 Americans have died from the virus so far.
Connecticut has 1,291 confirmed cases, a number which is expected to rise as testing becomes more widely available. The state's death toll stands at 27.
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