Coronavirus: England introduces Up to £10,000 fine for failure to self-isolate

The UK has introduced fine for those who refuse to self-isolate. The fines of up to £10,000 have been introduced in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Refusing to self-isolate has now made illegal in England from Monday.

According to BBC, any person who tests positive for coronavirus, or has been told they have been in contact with someone who has, now has a legal duty to quarantine.

It will be considered a punishable offense not to obey the official instruction to self-isolate. One can face fines starting at £1,000 and rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches.

The government said that police officer can check that people are obeying the rules in virus hotspots and among high-risk groups based on “local intelligence”.

The law is applicable for people who have contracted Covid-19, or who have been asked by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate because they have been in close contact with someone with the virus.

The move comes as a study commissioned by the government found that only 18% of people, who were told to be isolated, went into quarantine. 

On the other hand, the government has also pledged an “uninterrupted supply” of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front-line workers over the winter.

The Department of Health said that Four-month stockpiles of PPE such as masks, visors, and gowns – will be available from November.

Home Secretary Priti Patel added the new fines were “a clear sign that we will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the law-abiding majority”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government would “not hesitate” to introduce further measures if case numbers continued to rise.