Kitchener-Waterloo

Guelph man charged for coughing on pedestrians

Guelph police say a 24-year-old man is facing charges after he approached two women on the street and coughed on them.

Man in his 20s charged with common nuisance, breach of probation

Guelph police cruiser.
Guelph police say a man is facing charges after he approached two women on the street, coughed and said, "Now you have coronavirus." (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

A 24-year-old man is facing charges after he approached two women on the street and coughed on them, according to police.

The incident happened around 1:45 p.m. Thursday on Dublin St. S and Wellington St. W.

Police said the accused walked up behind the two women, coughed and laughed.

"Now you have coronavirus," the man is alleged to have said.

Officers arrested a man about 30 minutes later.

He has been charged with common nuisance and breach of probation and is expected to appear in court July 14.

Multiple incidents involving targeted spitting and coughing have been reported to police in southwestern Ontario in recent weeks