‘Violation of quarantine order by coronavirus patient a punishable offence’

The Sindh government has announced that the violation of quarantine order by any coronavirus patient is a punishable offence.

The government has declared it that the COVID-19 patients are legally bound to isolate them at home or at the designated isolation centres. The patients are bound to inform the health officials about their health condition in pursuance of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Act-2014.

The Sindh government’s additional chief secretary for home department, Muhammad Usman Chachar, issued a notification to this effect on Monday.

The notification states: “Whereas, there has been an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Sindh, which are expected to rise expeditiously, therefore, the Government of Sindh, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014 is pleased to notify following measures to be observed to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus with immediate effect and until further order:

All those persons who have been declared positive of coronavirus shall immediately isolate themselves at home under intimation to relevant health teams of the health department or in specified isolation centres established by the government, and shall remain in isolation till complete recovery.

All the public/private hospitals/laboratories/health centres attending coronavirus patients/conducting coronavirus laboratory diagnostic tests shall send report to the health department twice a day (at 0100 hrs and 1at 300 hrs) on fax No 021-99222837 with immediate effect.” It adds: “All persons having symptoms of coronavirus shall immediately report to the health department, Government of Sindh Control Room Contact No. 021-99204452, 021-99206565, 0306-0111712.

“Any person disobeying any of the above restrictions or orders/directions made under this order shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code as mentioned in Section 4 of the Act.”