A 63-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for four months at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today for violating the Prevention & Control of Disease Regulation.

He was earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to a public hospital for treatment. He left the hospital without permission on December 18 last year and was located by Police two days later.

Under the regulation, a person shall not, knowing that he is a contact or is infected with a specified infectious disease, expose other people to the risk of infection by the person's presence or conduct in any public conveyance or any street, public place, place of entertainment or assembly, club or hotel or by carrying on any trade, business or occupation.

Offenders face a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The Department of Health said public co-operation is the key to stop the spread of the disease in the community. Such irresponsible acts increase the risk of exposing other people to infection.

The Government severely condemns such acts and appeals to the public to adhere to the relevant regulations.