"Everyone Will Get Infected" COVID-19 Suspected French Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Coughing at Police

Medical staff are working wearing protective gear at a hospital in Bordeaux, France. This is unrelated to any specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] A man in his 60s in France who showed suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was sentenced to prison for deliberately coughing on police officers.

According to the French daily 'La Voix du Nord' on the 31st (local time), police who responded to a domestic violence report on the 28th visited the home of Mr. A (66), who lives in Tourcoing in the north. Mr. A, who works as a doctor at a nearby general hospital, was classified as a suspected COVID-19 patient and was on sick leave.

Having been informed of this in advance, the police visited Mr. A's home wearing masks and gloves. They then provided him with protective gear and requested him to accompany them.

While riding in the police car, Mr. A suddenly took off his mask and began coughing in the face of the police officers, saying, "I am infected with COVID-19." Despite repeated requests from the officers to put the mask back on, he reportedly insisted, "Everyone will eventually be infected with COVID-19."

The police officers who were subjected to this incident immediately took Mr. A into custody and entered quarantine measures.

Mr. A, who appeared in court on the 30th, apologized, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the police officers." On that day, Mr. A's side requested a postponement of the trial due to suspected COVID-19 infection, the need for testing, and the risk of virus transmission, but the court rejected the request. Mr. A was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of strangling his wife (domestic violence) and coughing on the police officers' faces (obstruction of official duties).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.