Authorities Want You To Dob In Your Mates Who Don't Self-Isolate With Coronavirus Symptoms

Australia has brought in very specific rules for people amid the coronavirus outbreak.

People who have symptoms of Covid-19 are told to immediately take themselves home and isolate from the rest of the community for 14 days.

Additionally, people returning from overseas, regardless of their health or destination, will be also required to self-isolate for a fortnight.

PA

Those who don't adhere to these rules will be committing an offence because they pose a serious risk to the community's health.

As a result, state, territory and federal officials are encouraging people to dob in their mates, loved ones, colleagues or others who aren't self-isolating when they should.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a press conference: "There are penalties in place for people who don't respect what we've done.

"We really need people to step up as well and to follow instructions.

NSW Government

"Because there's no chance we're going to be able to monitor every single person that gets off a plane for the next two weeks. It's not going to be possible.

"What we do want is to make sure we do have those provisions in place, so that if we do know cases - and people should report these cases, if people are turning up to work when they shouldn't; if they're engaging in community and social life when they shouldn't, well let us know.

"If you're in a workplace and you know someone is coming to work who has recently been overseas, let us know.

"You can let the relevant authorities know, and the police can turn up and force that person to stay home.

"If anybody doesn't follow those instructions, there's a hefty fine and also potential jail time."

PA

The penalties for flouting the new directive from the government are incredibly hefty, although their severity depends on where you live.

People in New South Wales will be fined up to $11,000 for not self-isolating, $13,000 in Queensland, $20,000 in Victoria, $25,000 in South Australia and a whopping $50,000 for Western Australia. The penalty for corporations flouting that law is much higher.

Those who are caught can also face up to a year behind bars in WA and six months in NSW.

Topics: News, coronavirus, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie