Five people sentenced over quarantine breaches

Health officials said five people had been sentenced in the Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday for breaching quarantine rules.

They said in a statement that the five cases involved three men and two women, aged between 29 and 74, who had been ordered to quarantine at home for 14 days.

The officials said the five had all left quarantine without reasonable excuse and without permission.

They said the five had received sentences of between seven and 20 days, with three of the sentences suspended for 12 months.

Health officials said breaching quarantine was a criminal offence, carrying a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The Department of Health said the sentences sent a clear message to the community that the government would not tolerate breaches of quarantine orders.

It said that as of August 25, a total of 175 persons had been convicted of breaching quarantine orders and had received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000.