Amid an escalating coronavirus pandemic, teenagers in Virginia have filmed themselves coughing on grocery store produce, police say.

Officers have scoured social media, but so far have been unable to find the video following the incident in Purcellville on Thursday.

The shop removed the tainted items and took safety measure to protect the public, according to ABC7.

Deputy police chief Dave Dailey said the teenagers were seen taking videos by another shopper.

Though CCTV failed to capture the coughing, it showed the group in the store, he said.

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The incident came amid an exponential surge in recent days of coronavirus cases in the US.

The total number climbed past 18,000 by Friday in a surge that health officials attributed in large part to an increase in diagnostic testing.