An Austrian man decided to attend an Italian “coronavirus party” in an attempt to build immunity against the deadly COVID-19, but unfortunately, he died from the virus.
Patrick Franzoni, deputy co-ordinator of a COVID unit in the Italian city of Bolzano, confirmed the 55-year-old man died last week after contracting the virus, Rai Alto Adige reported.
These types of parties are prevalent in Bolzano and elsewhere across the province of South Tyrol, Newsweek reported.
Franzoni and his colleagues said they are aware that some young people are intentionally trying to catch the virus-19, with the ultimate goal of getting a “green pass” without being vaccinated.
“Green passes” were first introduced in Italy late this summer and were made mandatory for the workplace in October. The certificates are given to those that have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or naturally recovering from the virus within the past six months.
These types of certificates are also required in other parts of Europe.
“We have received more than one account from doctors of patients who admitted to having been infected on purpose,” he said, according to the news outlet.
“[They do this] to develop antibodies and to obtain the green pass without vaccination. There are long-term consequences and even young people can end up in hospital.”
Starting December 6, people in Italy will have to have the pass to get access to cinemas, theatres, gyms, nightclubs, ski lifts and stadiums, and indoor dining at restaurants and bars.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced the new measures on Wednesday: “We are seeing the situation in bordering countries is very serious and we also see that the situation in Italy is gradually but constantly getting worse.”
In explaining the concept of “coronavirus parties,” Franzoni added at least one person attending the party is already infected with COVID-19 and other partygoers deliberately try to catch the disease from that person. They do so “not realizing that the virus is also dangerous in children and young people,” he continued.
The Prosecutor’s Office in Bolzano has launched an investigation into the superspreader parties, the Independent reported.
Many European countries have quickly reimposed COVID restrictions on their citizens after seeing a sharp surge in infections. The WHO said earlier this month that the EU has become the epicenter of the pandemic once again and that recent coronavirus cases across the region account for nearly three-fifths of global infections.
The EU might halt air travel from areas where a new COVID variant, B.1.1.529, has been discovered, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told reporters on Friday.
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