A woman who allegedly filmed inside a hospital to prove that Covid is ‘all a lie’ has been charged with offences under the Public Order Act.
46-year-old Debbie Hicks, who lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was arrested by officers on 29th December.
The arrest came less than a day after Hicks allegedly walked around the non-Covid part of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital saying that wards were ‘shut down’ and it was ‘completely dead.’
Hicks gained access to the non-Covid wards on December 28th; shortly after authorities moved the area into tier three.
The hospital’s spokesperson responded to the misleading clip by affirming that wards were ‘extremely busy’ as staff cared for more than 200 Covid-19 patients.
Since the pandemic, most hospitals have set up ‘covid hot’ and non-covid sections.
‘Covid hot’ sections of hospitals are used to treat patients who are seriously ill having become infected with the virus.
The footage in Hicks’ video appeared to show the non-covid sections of the hospital.
A statement from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that was released shortly after the video said:
‘We are currently caring for more than 200 patients with Covid-19.
‘This includes many who require treatment in our critical care departments and a further 500-plus non-Covid patients who need our care and expertise.’
Local MP Siobhan Baillie said it was ‘appalling’ that hardworking staff at the hospital ‘had to spend their precious time during this difficult pandemic defending themselves against films on social media that were wrongly claiming the hospital is empty’.
Hicks is due to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on March 30.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said:
‘The charge relates to an incident at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on Monday December 28.’
‘Footage of her arrest was also later posted on social media’.
The Metro reported that Hicks was also arrested in Parliament Square on January 6 after attending an anti-vaccine protest.
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