RCMP officers across the province are reporting being threatened by people who claim to have COVID-19.

In the past several days, RCMP said Mounties have reported receiving threats of being coughed on or spit on by members of the public who claim to have the virus.

“The threat to transmit the COVID-19 virus is a threat to the well being and health of our members which is a criminal offense,” said Assistant Commissioner John Ferguson, Alberta RCMP’s Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Operations. “To actually carry out these threats would be an Assault on a Peace Officer.”

Alberta RCMP laid a charge in relation to such an incident on Sunday. RCMP say they were called to a complaint of a disturbance in Wetaskiwin. A man was arrested for breaching his release conditions. RCMP say the man claimed he had COVID 19, and allege he intentionally coughed into one officer’s face and then did the same thing to another officer when being processed at the detachment. The man was charged with several offenses including two counts of assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with the public health act.

RCMP said threatening to infect anyone with a virus is a very serious offense and it won’t help get you out of trouble.

“Obviously when we’re talking about a highly contagious virus everyone’s safety is a concern and this is not something you should be doing or threatening anyone with,” said Fraser Logan RCMP media relations manager. “It may be a joke to some people, it may be a method some people think they can get out of a ticket or an arrest, but no. This is very serious.”

These times are unprecedented and RCMP said they want Albertans to know they are prepared and ready to serve across the province. Logan said officers ave personal protective equipment to help protect themselves and others and they will continue to do their jobs.

Mounties are asking the public to adhere to current public health guidelines with respect to slowing the spread of COVID-19.