COVID Denier Dead, 12 Infected After Super Spreader Event

A prominent Norwegian conspiracy theorist and COVID denier died from the virus after holding two events at his barn recently. At least 12 people that were in attendance were infected.

Newsweek reports that Hans Gaarder, 60, was not tested before his death but tested positive for coronavirus after he died from the virus last week. Gran municipal chief physician Are Løken said that preliminary autopsy reports confirmed his death was due to COVID-19.

Police are now trying to identify how many people attended the events held on Gaarder’s property. The events, which were illegal due to coronavirus, were held on March 26 and 27. Events have been banned in the municipality since March 16 to drive down coronavirus numbers in the area.

Gaarder had previously made comments on his social media likening the virus to a cold. “What could be the reason for the measures ‘to prevent infection’ for something that will be like a cold or mild flu? Could it be to camouflage that coronavirus is not transmitted from person to person?” he wrote.