Anyone who attempts to spread COVID-19 intentionally could be prosecuted with terrorism charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On Tuesday, a DOJ memo listed several crimes that have been reported to various agencies across the U.S.
From hoaxes aiming to capitalize on fake testing kits and face masks, to social media scams aiming to fraudulently collect donations -- the criminal activity is dynamic, according to the memo.
There have also been "threats to intentionally infect other people," in the reports sent to the U.S. Attorney General.
According to the memo, the coronavirus "appears to meet the statutory definition of a 'biological agent' under 18 U.S.C. § 178(1)."
"Such acts potentially could implicate the Nation's terrorism-related statutes," the memo states.
The memo added threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon will not be tolerated.
