Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

£28,000 Fine For Man Clubbing During COVID-19 Quarantine

Taiwanese man fined £28,000 for going clubbing, instead of quarantining.

In Taiwan, 35 year old Mr. Huang was handed a fine of £28,000 for going clubbing, while he was supposed to be quarantining… 

In the capital, Taipei, on the 22 March, officers were running their routine inspection of crowded local areas when they fell upon Mr. Huang, dancing away at the Omni Nightclub. Following a quick search using their cloud-based server, M-Police, which allows authorities to check an individual’s status immediately, they uncovered that Mr. Huang was supposed to be undergoing the mandatory 14 days quarantine until April 2nd, since returning from Cambodia. 

Mr. Huang was handed a fine of 1 million New Taiwan dollars (equivalent to £28,220) for breaching his quarantine. The municipal Department of Health released in a statement that his visiting of crowded and enclosed spaces was a ‘malicious’ act, so punishment was necessary. 

Image by Tim Dennel from Flickr

Taiwan is taking severe measures against this pandemic, thanks to lessons learnt during the 2002 SARS outbreak they suffered. 

In a press conference, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih said, “I will not go soft on you. If you leave your home, I will fine you.”

Many fines have been registered, such as if one is found taking public transport during their supposed quarantine sentence, the fine order can go up to 2 million New Taiwan Dollars (£56,850). 

Just before Mr. Huang’s incident, 55 people were discovered by authorities breaking their quarantine sentences, resulting in fines of 3.3 million New Taiwanese Dollars altogether (£93,890). 

So far, quarantine-related fines have summed up to 4.3 million New Taiwanese Dollars (£122,360). 

Image by Wikimedia Commons

The severe impact of ordering these massive fines on the Taiwanese population, however, has encouraged the majority to follow the rules. Taiwan, indeed, has yet to order a lock-down. 

It has also kept its schools open, issuing thorough temperature and symptom checks at the gates and in classrooms. 

Taiwan has also banned all foreign nationals from entering, whereas nationals who returns must self-isolate for 14 days from the return date. 

For individuals who are suspected of symptoms, their self-isolation is monitored by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control via the GPS signal from their mobile phone SIM cards. 

On the island of 23.7 million people, there are merely 195 cases in total, and mostly from Taiwan nationals returning from Europe and the United States, and so far only 2 Covid-19 related deaths. 

Image via Pixabay

It is interesting to see how their model to deal with this pandemic is much less harmful to their own economy, and seems more effective as well, than the measures European and North American countries are taking. Without freezing life and work, but assuring that contamination does not spread by issuing infamously large fines on individuals who breach protocol, Taiwan seems to be dealing with the virus expertly. They are targeting dangerous individuals, instead of companies and communities. 

Read more on how it helps to be aware, instead of anxious about coronavirus to keep yourself safe. 

Featured Image via Pixabay

Written By

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Support Real Ones. Fund the Future.

If you read this far, you get it: young voices matter. At TRILL, every story is written by emerging writers telling the truth in a media landscape that too often silences them.

We run ads, yeah. But they don’t run us. We’re independent, mission-driven, and powered by people who believe young storytellers deserve more than just “exposure.”

Your donation goes straight to mentorship, editorial support, and launching the next wave of Gen Z writers into media careers that matter.

If that matters to you, chip in. Even $5 helps keep TRILL free, fearless, and independent.

Donate Now →

You May Also Like

Sport

The 150-man field includes some of the biggest names in the sport, along with others who have fought hard for a spot. The U.S....

Societal Issues

A new threat is intensifying overtourism... social media influencers.

Sport

Money in the Bank is an annual wrestling event that is highlighted by two career defining ladder matches.

Politics

Last Month Polanski Announced his Eco-Populist Leadership bid. Is he Veering too Close to Reform UK’s Playbook?