An American Muslim firefighter was tested positive for the novel coronavirus just days after being taunted by three Jewish teenagers who had allegedly sneezed in his face, the New York Post reported.
Omar Sattar, 33, was on duty when he was taunted by Hasidic Jewish youths who asked him if he was “afraid of the coronavirus?” and deliberately sneezed in his face on March 18 in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
Sattar started experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus (covıd-19) four days after the incident and was tested positive on March 27.
“After repeated attempts to keep distance from the boys, one of them sneezed into his face and they ran off,” according to a complaint letter written to New York Fire Department (FDNY)’s chief of operations, Thomas Richardson.
“Although we will not be able to tell if this positive COVID-19 test result is a direct outcome of the previous incident, what we do know is the continued lack of [regard] by the citizens of [Borough]Park for the state of emergency policy,” the letter said.
“In a time when personal space and social distancing is at an all-time high, it is going to take a cumulative effort from everyone to defeat this virus,” it contined.
However, FDNY considers the letter as “unofficial,” saying it could not get feedback from all the parties in question.
“We cannot comment on the veracity of the report,” FDNY spokesman Jim Long told The New York Post.
Former Brooklyn politician Dov Hikind, who is an Orthodox Jew, described the incident as “sick and outrageous.”
He criticized Hasidic Jews for not fulfilling social distancing guidelines by saying, “What the hell is wrong with these people?” and added that Brooklyn funeral homes catering to the Jewish community have been “overwhelmed” with bodies.
A great number of social media users on Twitter accused the New York Post of deviating from the main subject by highlighting that the firefighter’s father is a “convicted terrorist.”
After appearing in China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 184 countries and regions, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.
Over 1.43 million cases have been reported worldwide, with Europe being the worst-hit continent.
The global death toll is over 82,000 and more than 301,000 people have recovered around the world so far.
