Texas DA charges individual with falsely claiming positive COVID-19 test on social media
TYLER, Texas - Texas prosecutors have accused an individual of falsely claiming on social media to testing positive at a hospital for the COVID-19 virus.
Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin announced the person’s arrest on Monday in a Facebook post.
He said that over the weekend, the individual “falsely reported on social media” to testing positive for COVID-19 at Tyler County Hospital.
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“The case was promptly investigated by the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office and delivered to the District Attorney’s Office,” Babin said.
Babin said his office charged the individual with making a false report, a misdemeanor.
The name of the accused person has not been released, a member of Babin's staff told Fox News Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, Babin said on Facebook that knowingly communicating or circulating "a false report/false alarm of COVID-19" that one “knows is false or baseless” and that “would ordinarily cause action by an official or interrupt the occupation of any place of assembly" can be a criminal offense in Texas.
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The arrest came as Texas announced its first coronavirus-related death.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the state had 106 confirmed coronavirus cases.
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