Covid: £ 10,000 fines for self-isolation violations

People in England who reject a self-isolation order could face a fine of up to £ 10,000, the government has said.

The new legal duty requires people to self-isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus, or if they are tracked as a close contact, since September 28.

The new measures also include a one-time support payment of £ 500 for those with the lowest income and a fine for employers who punish those who are told to self-isolate.

On Saturday, 4,422 new cases of Covid-19 and 27 deaths were reported.

350 new cases were reported in Scotland, the highest daily increase since May, 212 new cases in Wales and 222 in Northern Ireland.

Initially the fines will start at £ 1,000 and increase to £ 10,000 for repeat offenders and for “the most serious offenses”. So far, the self-isolation council has been just a guide.

In announcing the new rules for England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the best way to fight the virus was for everyone to follow the rules.

“So no one underestimates how important this is, the new regulations will mean that you are legally bound to do so if you have the virus or if NHS Test and Trace has asked you to. People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines.

“We need to do everything we can to control the spread of this virus, to prevent the most vulnerable people from becoming infected, and to protect the NHS and save lives,” he said.

At a glance: What are the new rules?

• People in England told by NHS Test and Trace to isolate themselves face fines of £ 1,000 – up to £ 10,000 for worst offenders – if they don’t
• Is include those who test positive and those identified as close contacts confirmed cases
• That also includes employers that force staff to ignore a self-isolation order
• NHS Test and Trace will regular contact with insulators to verify compliance
• Measures apply from September 28 and it will be executed by police and local authorities
• Those who receive benefits or have low income and who cannot work from home you can receive a one-time payment of £ 500 if it is self-insulating

Those who attract the highest penalties are described as those that prevent other people from isolating themselves, such as an employer who insists that a staff member comes to work in violation of an order.

The sanctions are in line with those for people who do not self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to the UK from a country that is not on the list of low-risk nations.

In Bolton, a returning tourist, who did not isolate himself and instead went pub crawling, is partly to blame for the increase in cases in the city.

Iron fist in a velvet glove

The prime minister is concerned that existing regulations are being flouted too often and not being enforced effectively.

Government scientific advisers have suggested that up to 4 out of 5 people who should isolate themselves, bend or break the rules.

So as of September 28 in England, fines of £ 1,000 can be imposed initially, rising to £ 10,000 for repeat offenders.

But the iron fist is encased in a velvet glove.

Following pilot schemes in some parts of Lancashire, a lump sum of £ 500 will be made available to people with benefits or low income who have to isolate themselves and cannot work from home.

The UK government hopes the new measures will be repeated in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have powers to set their own rules on the coronavirus.

Officials said that NHS Test and Trace would be in regular contact with people who were told to isolate themselves and that they would report any suspicions that the people are not complying with police and local authorities.

Police will also verify compliance at Covid-19 hotspots and among groups considered “high risk”, as well as follow up on reports from members of the public about individuals who tested positive but who they did not isolate themselves.

Prosecutions could continue in cases of “notorious and egregious” non-compliance.

As with other coronavirus rules, there will be specific exemptions for those who need to escape illness or harm during isolation and for those who require care.

Changes in support for those who receive benefits or have low incomes will initially affect up to four million people who cannot work from home in England, the government said.

The one-time payment of £ 500 is on top of the statutory sick pay of £ 95.85 per week and a previously announced additional severance pay of £ 182 for those told to self-isolate in the areas of higher risk intervention.

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