Up to $17,500 in fines for quarantine rule breakers in England

This article is more than 12 months old

Sep 21, 2020 06:00 am

LONDON: People in England who break new rules requiring them to self-isolate if they have been in contact with someone infected with Covid-19 will face a fine of up to £10,000 (S$17,550), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday.

The rules will apply from Sept 28 to anyone who tests positive for the virus or is notified that they have been in contact with someone infectious.

Mr Johnson said: "People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines."

Fines will start at £1,000 for a first offence, rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders or cases where employers threaten to sack staff who self-isolate rather than go to work.

People are to stay home for at least 10 days after they have symptoms, and others in their household are not to leave the house for 14 days. But there has been little compliance, except in some cases where people returned from abroad. - REUTERS