Anyone deliberately coughing on police officers and other key workers will face serious criminal charges.
The warning comes after a number of arrests have been made across the UK for the offence, including an arrest made in Essex.
A report from the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales has confirmed essential workers are being coughed on by people claiming to have coronavirus to scare them.
The incident in Essex involved a man who coughed on police officers, claiming he had coronavirus.
The incident took place on Catchpool Road in Colchester, whilst officers were arresting the man for possessing Class B drugs.
The man has been charged with two counts of assault on an emergency worker.
Max Hill QC said he was “appalled” by the incidents and the full force of the law would be used.
Coughing or spitting at key workers, or even threatening to carry out such acts, can be considered a crime, leading towards a common assault charge.
Attacking emergency workers can carry a maximum sentence of two years in England and Wales.
Mr Hill said: “Emergency workers are more essential than ever as society comes together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.”
“I am therefore appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19.”
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