Coronavirus: Shock moment doctor allegedly attacks teen for ignoring social distancing rules
Footage of a doctor allegedly assaulting a group of teens for flouting social distancing rules has emerged. WARNING: Distressing
A doctor has been suspended and could face criminal charges after footage emerged showing him allegedly assaulting a group of teenagers for flouting social distancing rules.
Video shows the unidentified physician in an altercation with the young group that escalates with him on the floor and a woman screaming.
Local police responded to a report of an assault at the park where it happened after witnesses said an 18-year-old woman had been attacked, Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
The woman was examined by paramedics at the scene but despite being “grabbed by the neck” did not suffer serious injuries.
He has since been arrested for allegedly strangling the teenager, The NY Post reports.
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Multiple witnesses told Louisville Courier-Journal the brawl began when the man and the woman he was with approached the group of nine people to scold them for allegedly not maintaining a social distance between them in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The group are reportedly all in their “later teens”.
Authorities said the man, who works for New Albany-based Southern Indiana Anesthesia Consultants, is facing charges of strangulation and harassment with physical contact.
He has since been put on administrative leave from work while the confrontation, which occurred on Friday, April 3, is investigated.
“Our well wishes extend to all parties involved and we will continue to monitor this situation as new information develops,” his company told the Louisville Courier-Journal in a statement.
In Australia, locals can be fined for ignoring social distancing rules enforced by the Federal Government in a bid to stop the spread of the potentially deadly disease.
Keeping 1.5m away from others and limiting interactions with physical touch during this time is a strategy being adopted across the globe in a bid to “flatten the curve” and reduce transmission of coronavirus.
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, recently presented graphs that illustrated just how well the method was working in this country.
— Daniel Hurst (@danielhurstbne) April 7, 2020
Dr Murphy said seeing the results of Australia’s commitment to social distancing and self-isolation was “wonderful”.
Continue the conversation @RebekahScanlan | rebekah.scanlan@news.com.au