‘Self-isolate or face fine’

THE Welsh Government is making self-isolation a legal requirement, punishable by fine for those who fail to comply.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said fines for breaking self-isolation will work in a similar way to other coronavirus penalties. He said the fines will be consistent with fixed penalty notices (FPN), starting from £60. Under the current system, people found in breach of coronavirus rules can be fined £60 for a first offence. With each reoffence the fine doubles, up to a maximum FPN of £1,920. However, if they are prosecuted, the court can issue an unlimited fine.

Mr Gething said he does not want an “enforcementheavy approach” and fines should only be imposed as a “last resort.” He added: “We’re looking at something that will be consistent ideally with the rest of the fixed penalty notice regime that we’ve introduced. And the fixed penalty notices are a last resort. The first point is to ask people to do the right thing.”

The firebreak lockdown ended on Monday and a new set of strict rules are in place. The rules, in force for two weeks, will allow businesses to reopen, and give people greater freedom to see others and travel within Wales. After two weeks the restrictions will be reviewed.

Mr Gething said: “The freedom people will have at Christmas depends on all the choices we make over the next six weeks or so. If we can live together and find a way to understand what we should do to reduce the risk for all of us, we have much better prospects of being able to spend Christmas with people outside our own immediate household.”