Criminals claiming to have coronavirus and deliberately coughing at police officers could face up to two years in prison, the country's top prosecutor has warned.
Coughs directed towards key workers or members of the public could be charged as common assault, while assaults against emergency workers are punishable by up to two years in jail, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), made a statement following a spate of threats linked to potentially fatal virus amid the pandemic.
Mr Hill said: "Emergency workers are more essential than ever as society comes together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
"I am therefore appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19.
"Let me be very clear: this is a crime and needs to stop. The CPS stands behind emergency and essential workers and will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who threatens them as they go about their vital duties."
The warning comes after Darren Rafferty, 45, admitted on Wednesday to deliberately coughing at Metropolitan Police officers before claiming he was suffering from coronavirus.
He admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his former partner and three counts of assault on an emergency worker and faces sentencing next month.
David Mott, 40, was jailed on Wednesday after threatening to spit at police in Blackburn after officers questioned him about being with two others following the announcement of stricter social distancing rules on Monday night, the CPS said.
And a group of teenagers spat in the face of an RSPCA officer as she rescued a swan on Saturday, shouting "have corona b****", according to the animal charity.
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