A 59-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (January 29) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (the Regulation).
 
     The man was diagnosed with COVID-19 and was being hospitalised at the Tseung Kwan O Hospital on August 1, 2020. He was instructed by hospital staff to stay in Accident and Emergency Department and wait for admission. However, he ignored the instructions given by hospital staff and left the hospital. He was subsequently intercepted by a police officer and charged with contravening sections 32(1)(a)(i) and 32(3) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.
 
      Pursuant to section 32 of the Regulation, a person shall not, knowing that he is a contact or is infected with a specified infectious disease, expose other persons to the risk of infection by the person's presence or conduct in any public conveyance or any street, public place, place of entertainment or assembly, club or hotel or by carrying on any trade, business or occupation.  Offenders face a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for six months. 
 
      A spokesman for the Department of Health said that cooperation by the public is the key to stop the spread of the disease in the community. Such irresponsible act increases the risk of exposing other persons to infection. The government severely condemns such acts and appeals to the public to adhere to the relevant regulations. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who breach them.

Ends/Friday, January 29, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:46

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