An Australian state is toughening its punishment for anyone caught violating coronavirus quarantines, including jailing rulebreakers for up to six months — a warning that follows rising virus cases worldwide and violations of restrictions that are now being further tightened.
The current fines for breaking a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine for some visitors or lying about their whereabouts “appears not to be enough" in some cases, Queensland state's Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
Click to Gallery
An Australian state is toughening its punishment for anyone caught violating coronavirus quarantines, including jailing rulebreakers for up to six months — a warning that follows rising virus cases worldwide and violations of restrictions that are now being further tightened.
Queensland shut down its state borders to successfully contain the coronavirus outbreak, but has reopened to all but residents of Victoria, Australia's worst affected region, two weeks ago.
Disney officials announced that Hong Kong Disneyland Park was closing Wednesday until further notice following the city’s decision to ban public gatherings of more than four people to combat newly spreading infections.
The two cases involved an Egyptian military officer and the 9-year-old child of a diplomat from Sudan. All other recent cases have involved Thai nationals repatriated from abroad confined in mandatory state quarantines. The cases arose as Thailand is considering how and when to reopen to normal foreign tourists.
Its nationwide lockdown largely ended, but the recent spikes have prompted several big cities to reimpose partial lockdowns. A 10-day lockdown that began Tuesday in the southern city of Pune, will allow only essential businesses such as milk shops, pharmacies, clinics and emergency services to open.
With higher fines and possibly six months’ imprisonment, "I hope that will demonstrate to the public just how serious we are about enforcing these measures,” Miles said.
Urns with the ashes of 105 Mexican that died from COVID-19 complications are displayed during a ceremony to mourn their deaths, in Puebla, Mexico, Monday, July 13, 2020. (AP PhotoFernando Llano)
Queensland shut down its state borders to successfully contain the coronavirus outbreak, but has reopened to all but residents of Victoria, Australia's worst affected region, two weeks ago.
The city of Melbourne in Victoria recorded 270 new coronavirus infections overnight, with more than 4,000 cases now active across the state. Melbourne is one week into a six-week lockdown in an attempt to stop a spike in new cases there.
Health experts have warned that outbreaks that had been brought under control with shutdowns and other forms of social distancing were likely to flare again as precautions were relaxed.
A health worker holds a sample for a person's COVID-19 test in Chapinero, an area with high contagion in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, July 13, 2020. The mayor of Bogota ordered tight restrictions in areas seeing the highest contagion. (AP PhotoFernando Vergara)
Disney officials announced that Hong Kong Disneyland Park was closing Wednesday until further notice following the city’s decision to ban public gatherings of more than four people to combat newly spreading infections.
Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, announced new coronavirus-related restrictions on Monday after 41 out of 52 newly reported infections were locally transmitted cases. Hong Kong has reported 250 new cases since July 6. Lam urged the private sector to put in place work-from-home arrangements for employees.
In Thailand, where there has been no reports of locally transmitted cases for seven weeks, health authorities were rushing to trace the contacts of two recent foreign arrivals in the country who were infected with the coronavirus and may have violated quarantine rules.
Soldiers in protective gear amid the COVID-19 pandemic patrol in Ciudad Bolivar, an area with high cases of the new coronavirus in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, July 13, 2020. The mayor of Bogota ordered tight restrictions in areas seeing the highest contagion. (AP PhotoFernando Vergara)
The two cases involved an Egyptian military officer and the 9-year-old child of a diplomat from Sudan. All other recent cases have involved Thai nationals repatriated from abroad confined in mandatory state quarantines. The cases arose as Thailand is considering how and when to reopen to normal foreign tourists.
The new coronavirus first found in China late last year has infected 13.1 million people worldwide and killed more than 573,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are thought to be much higher due to limited testing and the number of people who don't show symptoms.
India, which has the third-most cases, was rapidly nearing 1 million cases with a jump of more than 28,000 reported Tuesday. It now has more than 906,000 and accumulated more than 100,000 in just four days.
A woman walks in front of a closed alcohol shop in the township of Soweto outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, July 13, 2020, The sale of alcohol been banned since the country went into a strict lockdown to fight the spread of the new coronavirus (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
Its nationwide lockdown largely ended, but the recent spikes have prompted several big cities to reimpose partial lockdowns. A 10-day lockdown that began Tuesday in the southern city of Pune, will allow only essential businesses such as milk shops, pharmacies, clinics and emergency services to open.
The ebb and flow of the pandemic has governments scrambling to quash fresh outbreaks while attempting to salvage economies from the devastation of long shutdowns and travel restrictions.
South Africa imposed tighter restrictions including a ban on alcohol sales, mandatory face masks in public places and an overnight curfew, as a surge in new infections pushed it into the 10 worst-affected countries with nearly 300,000 confirmed cases, according to the Johns Hopkins tally.
A man walks past a COVID-19 advert promoting the use of face mask in the township of Soweto outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, July 13, 2020. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that top health officials warn of impending shortages of hospital beds and medical oxygen as South Africa reaches a peak of COVID-19 cases, expected between the end of July and September. South Africa's rapid increase in reported cases has made it one of the world's centers for COVID-19. (AP PhotoThemba Hadebe)
In the U.S., flaring outbreaks have led officials to mandate mask wearing and close down bars and some other businesses to once again try to bring the pandemic under control.
Hawaii’s governor pushed back by another month plans to waive a 14-day quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers who test negative for COVID-19.
“I know that this increases the burden on businesses here in the islands, especially small businesses. But we do believe that it is time to continue to protect the health and safety of our community,” Gov. David Ige told reporters. He cited rising numbers of local cases, “uncontrolled” outbreaks in several U.S. mainland states and a shortage of testing supplies.
The state has one of the lowest infection rates in the U.S., with 1,243 cases. Its quarantine requirement has virtually shut down tourism since it took effect in late March, pushing the unemployment rate in the islands to 22.6%, the second highest in the U.S.