KEY POINTS

  • Dr. Cory Edgar works at the UConn Health center
  • He, allegedly, deliberately ignored social distancing
  • Connecticut authorities also arrested another man for coughing on a cop

A doctor from Connecticut has been arrested and summoned with misdemeanor breach of the peace as he intentionally coughed on two of his co-workers at the University of Connecticut campus.

Dr. Cory Edgar, who works as an orthopedic surgery assistant professor at UConn Health, was accosted by the police on Thursday morning. The health center spokesperson, Jennifer Walker, said that witnesses saw Edgar, intentionally, coughing in close proximity to two other medical workers.

Witnesses also claimed that the doctor was disregarding safety and space guidelines amid the coronavirus public health crisis. To Walker's knowledge, however, Edgar is in good health and doesn't have COVID-19.

"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," the spokesperson said.

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The University of Connecticut Health Center, viewed from the side of the academic entrance. Wikimedia Commons

Edgar will be under administrative review with UConn Health and he is also scheduled to appear before the Hartford Community Court by June 3. It has not been determined if Edgar had other behavioral issues in the workplace prior to his arrest.

This is not the first time Connecticut authorities arrested a man for deliberately coughing on someone in the midst of a pandemic scare.

Earlier that day, state troopers also pulled over James Keith after receiving reports that he assaulted his girlfriend and disturbed the peace in an East Putman neighborhood. Keith also, deliberately, coughed on a state trooper as he was being handcuffed.

“Now you’re infected,” Keith, apparently, told the cop.

The U.S. Justice Department warned that deliberately spreading coronavirus may be considered as an act of terrorism. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen released a memo to the Justice Department staff, U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement agency chiefs stating that "threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated."

Connecticut has more has 1,291 COVID-19 positive patients and 27 deaths as of Friday, March 27, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. In the last 24 hours, the state has completed less than 2,000 tests. Thus, many are still awaiting their results.