Virginia teens allegedly recorded themselves coughing on produce in grocery store

Two teenagers from Virginia allegedly recorded themselves coughing on produce in a local grocery store last week and uploaded the video on social media, police said on Friday.

The incident, which occurred amid heightened over the outbreak of COVID-19, took place last Wednesday in Purcellville, about an hour drive northwest of Washington, D.C.

The Purcellville Police Department conducted an investigation and identified the teens involved, notified their parents, and interviewed the subjects.

Police say the teens admitted to their involvement and determined there was no “criminal intent.”

 

 

The department praised the store’s “swift action” in reporting the incident to police and removing the produce “to ensure the health of store patrons and employees.”

The teenagers identities were not released because of their age.

Police used the incident as a precaution for parents to keep a close watch on their kids, who are more susceptible to such behavior during school closures.

 

“However, we still ask that parents continue to monitor their children’s activities, including social media viewing and posting, and to discourage the promotion of any such fear-inducing behavior,” police said.

 

Over 30,000 schools in the U.S. have closed in response to the COVID-19 virus. School officials have been scrambling to move to online instructions.