A 25-year-old woman was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 18) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (the Regulation).
The woman was classified as a close contact of a COVID-19 confirmed case and was subsequently transferred to Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre for isolation on December 15, 2020. On December 23, 2020, she felt unwell and was sent to North Lantau Hospital for medical treatment. However, she did not follow the instructions to return to the place of quarantine after the medical treatment and left the hospital on the same day. Subsequently, she returned to the hospital on December 24, 2020 as she felt unwell again. She was charged with contravening sections 32(1)(a) and 32(3) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.
Pursuant to section 32 of the Regulation, a person shall not, knowing that he is a contact or is infected with a specified infectious disease, expose other persons to the risk of infection by the person's presence or conduct in any public conveyance or any street, public place, place of entertainment or assembly, club or hotel or by carrying on any trade, business or occupation. Offenders face a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for six months.
​A spokesman for the Department of Health said that co-operation by the public is the key to stop the spread of the disease in the community. Such irresponsible act increases the risk of exposing other persons to infection. The government severely condemns such acts and appeals to the public to adhere to the relevant regulations. As of today, a total of four persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching relevant regulations and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to four months. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who breaches the regulation.
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