Police search for woman who ‘coughed in baby’s face’

Child’s mother says ‘I can’t believe someone has a heart to do this, and why?’

Police are searching for a San Jose woman who appeared to cough on another woman’s child because she did not social distance inside a store.

The San Jose Police Department said on Tuesday that the suspect appeared “upset the female was not maintaining proper social distancing, so the suspect removed her face mask, got close to the baby’s face, and coughed 2-3 times.”

Police published video on Tuesday that showed the suspect waiting alongside the mother and child inside a Yogurtland store in San Jose, California, on 12 June.

The woman, who was white, moved towards the one-year-old child and coughed on him whilst he was in a stroller.

The mother, Mireya Mora, believes the woman’s actions were racially motivated because she is Hispanic.

“She said, ‘So you don’t understand, and do you even understand what I’m saying?’ Like I’m not even speaking English,” Ms Mora told NBC Bay Area.

“I can’t believe someone has a heart to do this, and why? My child did nothing wrong,” she added. “My son should not have experienced this.”

The child has since had trouble sleeping and suffered with fever symptoms, said his mother on Tuesday to KGO-TV.

Police have said the woman is wanted for assault, and that anybody with more information should contact the department.

“Coughing on someone’s face. She did it on purpose it’s not like she did it on accident, oh cough, cough – no she purposely coughed on my son’s face,” added Ms Mora to KGO.