Australians returning from overseas are told to self-isolate for 14 days – or face being fined up to $50,000 or jailed for a YEAR
- Australians are urged to self-isolate for 14 days amid the coronavirus outbreak
- Those refusing to comply with these health orders could face fines and jail time
- Some states can place people behind bars for a year and fine them $50,000
- Melbourne doctor and Hobart man continued work despite showing symptoms
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned of the heavy financial penalty that awaits any person who arrives from overseas and does not self-isolate.
From midnight all people coming to Australia will have to self-isolate for 14 days, while cruise ships will be banned from arriving at Australian ports for an initial 30 days.
Ms Palaszczuk said on Sunday that laws were in place to deal with those who fail to follow a direction to self-isolate.
‘In relation to legislation around that … it’s under our Public Health Emergency Act,’ she said.
‘That bill was passed in early February and there are penalties for not complying with the notification and that is around $13,000,’ she said.
‘We have random police checks to make sure people are compliant with that notice.’
Australians who refuse to self-isolate after returning from overseas could be hit with massive fines and even jail time (people wearing face masks outside St Vincents Hospital)
Each state has varying punishments for breaches of public health orders.
In Western Australia, people who ignore a public health order could be hit with a $50,000 fine and spend up to 12 months behind bars.
Under the South Australian Public Health Act, people who refuse to comply with policies could be forced to pay a maximum fine of $25,000.
In New South Wales, people who breach the public health order can be fined up to $11,000 and face six months behind bars.
Queenslanders that fail to comply with health orders could see fines of up to $13,345 along with other penalties.
In Tasmania, a maximum fine for disobeying rules under the Public Health Act is $8,400.
In Victoria, people could face a fine of up to $6,600.
A NSW Department of Health spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia failure to comply with the Public Health Act is an offence.
‘Novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a scheduled medical condition under the Public Health Act 2010,’ the spokesperson said.
Under the South Australian Public Health Act, people who refuse to comply with policies could be forced to pay a maximum fine of $25,000 (patients outside Concord Hospital)
‘This means cases of COVID-19 must be notified to the Secretary.
‘In addition, a public health order can be made in relation to a person with COVID-19 or a person who has come into contact with COVID-19. A public health order can require a person to undergo treatment, notify contacts or order a person to be detained.
‘It is an offence to fail to comply with a public health order.’
A spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Health said: ‘We have been clear that some extreme measures will need to be taken to protect public health.
‘None of these decisions will be taken lightly and must be proportionate to the threat.’
The warning came as Queensland had its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases, taking the number of people detected with the COVID-19 to 61.
There were 15 people confirmed on Sunday as having contracted the viris.
People were also being discouraged from kissing, hugging or even shaking hands.
‘We are asking Queenslanders, when you are out and about no hand shaking … and no kissing or hugging in public. Let’s all minimise the risk,’ the premier said.
Queensland’s chief health officer warned that now may not be the time for children to visit their grandparents.
‘I implore people if you have parents … or grandparents in that older age group think about how you can help them. Maybe it’s not the time for your young kids to see their grandparents,’ she said.
People are seen lining up outside a coronavirus clinic in Sydney as the virus continues to spread