Want to help cure Coronavirus? Get paid $4500 to be infected

Everyone is freaking out about the coronavirus. Shelves are without hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes. People are wearing masks. Airports are virtually abandoned and the New York City subway system got deep cleaned for the first time ever. While there is a tragic death toll for the coronavirus, it only kills about 3.4% of people infected by it, usually those with underlying health issues.

That means for the 96.6 of us who will probably be fine, we can take a deep breath. Or, if you want, you can get infected by the coronavirus or COVID-19 to make some quick cash. Why? Well, the news is saying that 60% of the population is probably heading for infection city with COVID-19, so you might as well get the inevitable illness out of the way now. 

So long as you’re totally healthy.

Hvivo, a British research company, is willing to pay for people to intentionally catch the coronavirus. And it’s a pretty nice chunk of change as well: £3,500, equivalent to over $4,500 for volunteers to catch the disease, which has killed 4,000 people worldwide.

Volunteers won’t be infected with the more aggressive strain of the virus. Instead, they will be infected by the 0C43 and 229E strains, which will give them milder symptoms. Volunteers will live in quarantine for two weeks at Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in Whitechapel, London. They will have no exercise, have no physical contact with others, and have a highly regimented diet. 

Only 24 people will be chosen for the process as well.

Scientists are hoping that this will lead to a breakthrough in a coronavirus vaccine. Currently, around the world, there are 20 COVID-19 vaccines in development. Sooner or later, hopefully, we’ll get a vaccine that works.

Until then, just make sure you really wash your hands or volunteer yourself for science. Either way, just do your part to make sure that the coronavirus doesn’t spread further.