US students throw ‘coronavirus parties’ to infect guests, giving prizes to those who catch Covid-19 first
- Organisers intentionally invite people who have tested positive
- Attendees put money in a pot, and whoever catches disease first gets cash
Several US university students in an Alabama city organised “Covid-19 parties” as a contest to see who would get the virus first, officials said.
McKinstry said party organisers purposely invited guests who tested positive for Covid-19. She said the students put money in a pot and whoever got the coronavirus disease first would get the cash.
“It makes no sense,” McKinstry said. “They’re intentionally doing it.”
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Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith confirmed the incidents to the city council on Tuesday.
The department thought the parties were rumours, but Smith said after some research, officials discovered the parties were real.
“Not only do the doctors’ offices confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information,” Smith said.
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Smith did not say whether actions would be taken against the students. He also did not say which schools the students attend. Tuscaloosa is home to The University of Alabama and several other colleges.
Alabama is one of several states reporting record increases in new coronavirus cases in the past week. Others include Arizona, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
