Fines of up to £10k if you refuse to isolate

COVID cretins will be clobbered if they refuse to self-isolate under tough new rules.

Those who test positive and even suspected carriers who ignore the two-week quarantine rule will be fined £1,000. That will rise to £10,000 for repeat offenders and cases of blatant non-compliance.

The plans – a legal requirement – are aimed at containing a second coronavirus wave sweeping menacingly across the UK.

But in a carrot-and-stick approach, up to four million low-paid workers can claim grants of up to £500 to cover the cost of staying home.

Announcing the scheme yesterday, PM Boris Johnson said: “The best way we can fight this virus is by everyone following the rules and self-isolating if they are at risk of passing on the virus.

“People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines.

“And while most people are doing their level best to comply with the rules, I don’t want to see a situation where people don’t feel they are financially able to self-isolate.”

Anybody contacted by test and trace teams after being in contact with a possible carrier will face the same penalty if they disobey.

DISASTROUS

Bosses who threaten self-isolating staff with redundancy if they do not turn up for work will also face fines.

The sweeping powers are aimed at preventing carriers from spreading the virus via social contact. They come amid attempts to avert a second national lockdown which Mr Johnson said would be “nothing short of disastrous” for the economy.

He has refused to rule out a national, two week “circuit break” lockdown after the R number infection rate rose to between 1.1 and 1.4.

The British Medical Association has called for tougher social distancing measures amid warnings of a significant rise in deaths. The