Covid warning: Intentionally contracting coronavirus ‘could lead to five years in prison’

The practice could apparently lead to a lengthy prison term, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health said in response to the rise of “infection parties”. This comes amid reports of vaccine sceptics organising coronavirus parties in order to gain immunity and access to a certificate for those who have been infected with Covid-19.

But intentionally spreading the virus could lead to five years behind bars in Switzerland, public broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse reported.

The report said that by purposefully catching the virus people increase the risk of passing it on to others, which could contribute to the country’s hospitalisation and death rate.

Swiss doctor Clause-Francois Robert “strongly advised against self-infection”, saying that “nothing can be controlled with natural infection”.

He also urged people to consider the health impacts, saying there is “10 times more risk of myocarditis by natural infection than by the vaccine”.

The doctor also assured sceptics that the vaccine is a “safe product”.

This came after Switzerland declared that in order to visit restaurants, bars and other indoor facilities, citizens are required either to be vaccinated or to have recovered from Covid-19.

According to the government, the restrictions are “intended to reduce the risk of unimmunised people from becoming infected as they are also more likely to pass on the virus and become seriously ill.”

But the move has reportedly led to a rise in so-called “infection parties”.

READ MORE: Brits to be alerted with messages encouraging Covid jabs on Boxing Day

Earlier in December, the UK government voted to introduce vaccine passports for large events.

The Covid pass within the NHS app will be required for indoor settings of 500 people or more, outdoor settings of 4,000 people or more, and any setting with 10,000 attendees or more, such as sports and music stadia.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “We will make the NHS Covid pass mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather.”

The passports will not be required for communal worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events or protests.

At the moment, people are required to show either proof of two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine or a recent negative lateral flow test.

But the requirement may be updated later to require proof of a booster dose, the Prime Minister said.

Mr Johnson suffered the biggest rebellion of his premiership over the issue, with 99 Conservative MPs voting against the measure.