False Alarm Amid Pandemic - Man Pretends Having Coronavirus Using Fake Doctor's Note, His Office Shuts Down Temporarily
Even as more victims succumb to coronavirus, there are people who are treating the pandemic as a joke and continue to be irresponsible.
Even as more victims succumb to coronavirus, there are people who are treating the pandemic as a joke and continue to be irresponsible.
While mass hysteria is yet to happen, many are spreading false information which is causing unnecessary panic.
Not so long ago, passengers aboard a Moscow underground train ran for their lives after a prankster faked collapsing from coronavirus. The man, identified as Karomatullo Dzhaborov, now faces five years in jail for the prank.
In India, an IIT-M research scholar created panic on board a Chennai to Coimbatore bus by saying she was a coronavirus patient. However, the scare turned out to be a prank as the scholar said she was playing a 'truth or dare' game with her friends.
Similar incidents have been reported from several countries since the outbreak was first reported in December.
Now, an office goer from the US state of South Carolina forced a temporary close down of his company after pretending to have coronavirus. Jeffrey Travis Long created a fake doctor's note stating he has COVID-19 and gave it to his employer, which caused the office to close for five days.
The fake doctor¡¯s note read: ¡°Dear Mr. Long, I am writing at your request to provide a note for your work regarding missing days. You were seen at Primary Care 1 here at the CGVAMC on 03/12/2020 with a positive test for the COVID-19 virus. You may return to work on 03/27/2020 following retesting on 3/27/2020. Please let us know if you require anything further.¡±
Long was arrested for his actions and was charged with 'breach of peace and forgery'. He has been relieved of his services at Sitel Corporation since the incident, said reports.
According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, the hospital where Long got himself tested said they hadn't seen the man within the previous two weeks.
The make matters more clear, the hospital added they weren't conducting COVID-19 tests at that time.