People in England who refuse to self-isolate to stop the spread of COVID-19 could face fines of up to £10,000 ($13,000, 11,000 euros) under tough new regulations announced Saturday to tackle a surge in cases.
PM Boris Johnson said this week that Britain was seeing a second wave of Coronavirus, & introduced new restrictions for millions of people across the northwest, northern & central England.
In a further measure announced late Saturday, he said that from Septe 28 people will be legally obliged to self-isolate if they test positive or are told to by the National Health Service (NHS) tracing programme.
PM Boris Johnson said that “The best way we can fight this virus is by everyone following the rules & self-isolating if they’re at risk of passing on coronavirus".
“And so nobody underestimates just how important this is, new regulations will mean you are legally obliged to do so if you have the virus or have been asked to do so by NHS Test & Trace.”
Currently, people who have symptoms or test positive are asked to self-isolate for ten days. Those who live with someone who either has symptoms or tests positive must self-isolate for fourteen days.
The new fines will start at £1,000 -- in line with breaking quarantine after international travel -- & rise to £10,000 for repeat offences & the worst breaches, including businesses that threaten self-isolating staff with redundancy, officials said.
In an incentive to get people to comply, those on low incomes will be able to claim an extra lump sum of £500 if they are unable to work from home during their isolation.
The PM said that “While most people are doing their absolute level best to comply with the rules, I don’t want to see a situation where people don’t feel they are financially able to self-isolate".
Almost 42,000 people who have tested positive for Coronavirus have died in Britain, the worst death toll from the pandemic in Europe.
After a summer lull, cases are rising rapidly again & Johnson warned on Friday of a 2nd wave.
He said that “We are seeing it in France, in Spain, across Europe -- it has been absolutely, I’m afraid, inevitable we were going to see it in this country".
New rules limiting social gatherings to six people from different households came into effect this week, & local measures have been introduced across the country.
But Johnson has expressed his reluctance to introduce another nationwide lockdown & some of his Conservative lawmakers are increasingly vocal in condemning current restrictions.
In London on Saturday, anti-vaccine & anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police in Trafalgar Square. Police said 32 people were arrested.
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