WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Doctors, nurses, and state leaders including Governor Roy Cooper have strong words for people who are purposely exposing themselves to the coronavirus: don't do it.
"That is completely irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable," Governor Cooper said in a news conference Monday, "If you do that, you could easily kill someone you love."
Yolanda Enrich, a family nurse practitioner with Novant Health in Winston-Salem, told WFMY News 2 some patients who are coming to the respiratory assessment centers have revealed they are attending gatherings to try and get exposed to COVID-19.
"They think that they will be immune to it and that they will be able to go back to normal," Enrich said, "It's definitely a trend that we have noticed over the past few days."
Enrich alongside many other medical experts strongly advise against it. First, healthcare workers do not know how long possible immunity to the coronavirus could even last once someone is exposed. Second, purposeful exposure will put high-risk populations in even more danger.
"If you go around spreading this virus, maybe you were very lucky and have mild symptoms, but maybe somebody else that you expose to the virus [could have] a very poor outcome," Enrich said.