Hong Kong police on the hunt for two people who abscond from coronavirus quarantine
- Force searching for the duo as health chiefs confirm two new confirmed infections
- City’s tally of cases climbs to 39, including 11 members of one family
Hong Kong police are hunting for two people who absconded from 14-day quarantines imposed by the government to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
Health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee said on Monday that nine people had been found to have left their designated premises since the mandatory measures came in, two of whom police were still trying to locate. All of them were Hong Kong residents, officials added.
“I have to remind these people, violating the quarantine order is a criminal offence,” Chan said.
Chan said 1,193 people – 1,066 Hong Kong residents and 127 non-locals – had been issued quarantine orders since the system came into force on Saturday. Most were confined to their homes, while 35 were staying in hotels and 20 had been sent to government quarantine facilities.
The government scheme applies to all people entering Hong Kong from mainland China and those who have been there within 14 days of their arrival to the city. Under it, locals will be confined to their homes for 14 days, while non-locals will stay at hotels or government quarantine centres.
Those violating the order face a maximum fine of HK$25,000 (US$3,220) and six months in jail.
To check if those under quarantine were staying put, Chan said, officers were calling them for voice and video conversations, and requiring some to share their live GPS location via messaging apps.