A popular Czech folk singer who deliberately caught COVID-19 has died, her son says. Hanka Horka, who was not vaccinated, caught the virus from her son and husband, who are vaccinated but still caught it over the holidays, according to BBC News.
The 57-year-old purposefully did not stay away from them and exposed herself the virus, which she caught. Horka posted on social media January 14 that she had recovered from the virus – but her son told BBC News she died two days later.
“She should have isolated for a week because we tested positive. But she was with us the whole time,” Jan Rek said of his mother’s deliberate exposure to the virus.
In the Czech Republic, many public places like theaters and bars require either proof of vaccination – or proof of recovery from recent infection, according to BBC News.
Rek said his mother got infected on purpose when he and his father had the virus, so she could get a recovery pass to access certain venues.
After she thought she recovered, Horka wrote: “Now there will be theatre, sauna, a concert,” according to BCC News.
But soon after, she was getting dressed for a walk and felt her back hurting. She went to lay down and in “about 10 minutes it was all over,” her son said. “She choked to death.”
Horka was a member of folk group Asonance. The band announced her death on their website. CBS News has reached out to the band for comment and is awaiting response.