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A man who police say intentionally coughed on money before tossing it at a 17-year-old convenience store clerk — saying he hoped the teen got COVID-19 — has been arrested and charged in Markham, Ont.

On Sunday, a man was buying cigarettes at the counter of JTM Value Plus, a convenience store in a strip plaza on Highway 7 East, York Regional police said.

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The employee asked the man to step back from the counter to maintain physical distance in the fight against the novel coronavirus, according to police. The store had taped lines on the floor where customers were asked to stand during transactions, in accordance with public health recommendations during the pandemic.

The customer appeared upset by the request.

He then purposely coughed on his money before throwing it at the clerk, according to police.

“He then told the employee he hoped he would get COVID and laughed while exiting the store. The money had to be separated for proper disinfection,” said Sgt. Andy Pattenden, a spokesman for York Regional Police.