What is the penalty for those who do not proactively quarantine and escape from quarantine areas suspected of being infected with Covid-19?

In recent days, information about people not proactively isolating themselves and escaping from quarantine areas due to contact with infected people, infected relatives, or areas infected with Covid-19 has caused public outrage and confusion.

This is the case of a male tour guide working on the Diamond Princess ship (this ship had 61 passengers infected with Corona virus, which docked at Ha Long International Passenger Port on January 28) but did not wear a mask, escaped from the quarantine area and then returned. Quang Ninh General Hospital took a sample of this male tour guide and sent it to the provincial Center for Disease Control. Fortunately, the male tour guidetested negative for Covid-19.

Quarantine area for people suspected of being infected with Covid-19 at Quang Ninh General Hospital. Photo: NH (Thanh Nien Newspaper)

The latest case is a 44-year-old woman (from Hai Phong) who was handed over by Chinese police to Lang Son Provincial Police, two days after escaping from the quarantine area at Regiment 123 under the Lang Son Provincial Military Command.

It can be said that, more than ever, society needs everyone to raise their civic awareness and sense of responsibility to society. While society is joining hands to prevent Covid-19, medical staff are working hard to treat patients who are unfortunately infected with Covid-19, the acts of escaping should be condemned and must be strictly implemented according to the provisions of the law to deter and warn those who have a selfish, unconscious, irresponsible lifestyle towards society and the community.

Discussing this issue, Dr. Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hai - Head of Trong Hai and Associates Law Office said: The behavior of the above-mentioned people carries the risk of spreading unforeseeable sources of infection. In terms of legal regulations, specifically: According to the law on prevention and control of infectious diseases, Covid-19 is considered particularly dangerous, has the ability to spread very quickly, widely and has a high mortality rate, and is identified as a group A disease with the most serious level.

Dr., Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hai - Head of Trong Hai and Associates Law Office.

One of the measures to prevent the epidemic is to isolate the sick and make medical declarations. The act of not proactively isolating or escaping from the isolation area is strictly prohibited as stipulated in Article 8 of this law. For this act, one is not only responsible to the community but also to the law. The level of administrative penalty is stipulated in Point b, Clause 2, Article 10 of Decree 176/2013/ND-CP with a fine of 5 million to 10 million VND.

Violators of quarantine regulations may also be prosecuted under Article 240 of the 2015 Penal Code on the crime of spreading dangerous infectious diseases to people with a fine of 50 to 200 million VND or imprisonment of 1 to 5 years. If the violation leads to the declaration of an epidemic under the authority of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the Minister of Health or causes death, the penalty is from 5 to 10 years in prison...

None of us discriminate against those suspected or infected with Covid-19. All components and resources in society are being mobilized to monitor, quarantine, track, and treat with the aim of achieving the best and most effective goal for the community against the Covid-19 pandemic.