A social media influencer, GayShawnMendes, also called Larz, who went viral after he filmed himself licking a toilet seat in a so-called ‘Coronavirus challenge’ on TikTok has now revealed that he has been tested positive with COVID-19.
“I tested positive for coronavirus,” 21-year-old Larz said and posted footage of himself in a hospital bed, as reported by Daily Mail
In the video, that has now been suspended, he reportedly told his followers he was “pretty hopped up on meds” following his diagnoses of the disease.
Multiple media outlets report that Larz who goes by the social media handle GayShawnMendes, posted a video of himself licking a public toilet twice as part of a bizarre ‘Coronavirus Challenge’ on social media.
This ‘Coronavirus challenge’ involved people on TikTok licking random objects, including toilet seats, grocery store products and other random objects.
However, It isn’t yet clear whether Larz’s apparent infection was linked to the stunt, but a study reveals that the virus can stay on surfaces of copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to 72 hours.
Not just Larz, many other such videos of teenagers participating in #CoronavirusChallenge are doing the rounds on social media. The hashtag has been used by influencers to post disgusting videos of themselves licking toilet seats, car and door handle among other objects.
It all started after 22-year-old influencer, Ava Louise initiated the challenge as she licked a toilet seat, allegedly while in a plane bathroom to prove that the COVID-19 virus couldn’t harm her.
Despite all the outrage, Louise reportedly made $4000 from the publicity generated.
Meanwhile, over 21,000 people worldwide have died from the COVID-19 pandemic.
