College students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, have been throwing parties in which they invite people infected with the coronavirus and gamble on who comes down with the illness first, city officials say.

Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry told ABC News about the practice on Wednesday. The city's fire chief, Randy Smith, first reported the parties at a meeting on Tuesday, according to WBMA.

Smith said the fire service had received reports of students throwing parties and inviting "known positives" but initially thought it was a rumor.

"Not only did the doctor's offices help confirm it, but the state confirmed they had the same information," Smith said, according to WBMA.

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