Anti-vaxxers risk death or hospital with Covid parties
AT LEAST one person has died and several others are in intensive care after attending ‘coronavirus parties’ in Italy in a deliberate attempt to catch the disease.
A 55-year-old man died in Austria last week after going to a ‘coronaparty’ in South Tyrol, northern Italy, health bosses say. At least three more people, including a child, are in hospital in the province after catching the virus at similar parties. Two are in intensive care.
Health chiefs believe anti-vaxxers are trying to get infected to obtain a ‘green pass’, needed to work in Italy.
It is thought the man who died in Austria worked across the border.
The only way to obtain a pass is to get vaccinated – gaining a ninemonth pass – or get over infection, which results in a six-month pass.
Clearance can be obtained by testing negative for the virus, but the result only lasts 48 hours and tests are £12.60. A probe is under way as deliberately spreading Covid is a crime in Italy.
Patrick Franzoni, of the anti Covid unit in Bolzano, said children are being pushed to attend the parties by anti-vax parents.
Adults have met outside bars, where the pass does not apply, and some meet indoors near bed-ridden Covid patients, he said.