SIBU: The State Health Department has warned that stern actions would be taken against those who break their Covid-19 quarantine.
State Chief Environmental Health Officer, Billy Sujang, said yesterday that the stern actions included hauling offenders to court for violating the Observation and Surveillance of Covid-19 Contacts Order under Section 15(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Offenders can be charged under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 which provides for a fine or a jail sentence of up to two years’ jail.
Billy said this after a site supervisor, Jeffery Jambo Dana, 27, was fined RM5,000 in default five months’ imprisonment for breaking his quarantine by having a plate of noodles at a cafe in Sibujaya at 9am last May 25.
He was supposed to observe 14-day quarantine at home until May 30 after flying back from Kuala Lumpur where he was working.
He even proudly posted on his Facebook account a photo of himself enjoying his meal.
“I want to tell people who have been told to observe quarantine not to break it. They should not take things for granted as once they are caught breaking the quarantine, we will have to charge them in court,” he said.
Billy added that as such cases were non-compoundable they had to be brought before the court.
“Why did we charge (him) in court? We did so not to find fault but to remind others to abide by the rules,” he said.
Jeffery, according to him, was the first quarantine breaker charged in court.
Billy also said the authority was looking into enforcing the Communication and Multi-media Act against those who spread fake news about Covid-19.
