Four police officers were in quarantine yesterday after a man who claimed he had Covid-19 was alleged to have coughed on two of them.

Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said the man deliberately coughed on two officers after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and breach of shelter-in-place regulations.

He said: “Two other officers also became concerned for their safety after the individual sustained an injury as he struggled with them while being processed at Hamilton Police Station.”

Mr Corbishley added that the man “claimed at the time that he had tested positive for Covid-19”.

He said: “His claims are yet to be confirmed.”

Mr Corbishley added that all four officers had been forced to go into a 14-day quarantine as a precaution.

He said: “Obviously this has an impact on them and their families, costs to police and government time, taking away resources from the front line.”

The man is expected to appear before the courts soon. Mr Corbishley said: “It will be a matter for the court how it is dealt with, but I take the issue extremely seriously and I’m sure the whole of Bermuda does.”

Mr Corbishley added that the Monday night incident highlighted the danger faced by frontline workers in the fight against Covid-19.

He said: “Actions such as those faced by these officers will not be tolerated and anyone engaging in them will be made to feel the full brunt of the law.

“Let this be a warning. The members of the Bermuda Police Service are here to serve and protect and have done so in a professional manner, braving the dangers presented by these unprecedented times.

“Any action, by anyone, to further endanger the lives of our officers will not be tolerated.”

Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security, said last night that the matter would be treated as a serious assault when it appears before the courts.