Woman gets 14 days for breaching compulsory quarantine order

A 29-year-old woman was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today for violating the compulsory quarantine order.

The woman was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days.

Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on May 17 without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorized officer.

According to law, starting from February 8, save for exempted persons, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days.

Moreover, starting from March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days.

Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offense and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

As of today, a total of 60 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to three months or a fine of $15,000.