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LONDON (REUTERS) – People in England who break new rules requiring them to isolate themselves if they have been in contact with someone infected with Covid-19 will face a fine of up to £ 10,000 (S $ 17,000), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. on Saturday (September 19).
The rules will apply from September 28 to anyone in England who tests positive for the virus or is notified by public health workers that they have been in contact with someone infected.
“People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines,” Johnson said in a statement.
Fines will start at £ 1,000 for the first offense and increase to £ 10,000 for repeat offenders or instances where employers threaten to fire self-isolating staff instead of going to work.
Some low-income workers who suffer a loss of income will receive a support payment of £ 500, in addition to other benefits, such as sick pay, to which they may be entitled.
Current guidance from the British government tells people to stay home for at least 10 days after they start to suffer from Covid-19 symptoms, and other people in their household not to leave the house for 14 days.
Anyone who tests positive is also asked to provide details of people outside of their home with whom they have been in close contact, who may also be told to isolate themselves.
To date there has been little enforcement of the self-isolation rules, except in a few cases where people have returned from abroad.
However, Britain is now facing a rapid increase in cases, and the government said police would be involved in checking compliance in areas with the highest infection rates.
Johnson has also faced calls to reintroduce broader lockdown rules for the general public.
However, the Sunday Times reported that he was willing to reject calls from scientific advisers for an immediate two-week national shutdown to curb the spread of the disease and instead reconsider when schools take a recess in late October.
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