Public face £1,000 fine or JAIL if they refuse coronavirus tests or quarantine
POLICE could jail or fine people £1,000 if they refuse to be tested or quarantined for deadly coronavirus.
Authorities will be granted emergency powers, to be announced next week, which will allow cops in England Wales to use “reasonable force” to detain people who could infect others.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
And if they leave before the isolation period is up, they could be arrested and taken into custody.
Failure to comply is a criminal offence and could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and imprisonment if the penalty is not paid.
Those suspected of having the virus must consent to giving blood and having their throat and nose swabbed, the report says.
They must also tell authorities who they have met and where they have travelled.
Chillingly, there are also measures to speed up cremations and burials, according to a draft seen by The Times.
All new powers will be unveiled Monday by No 10 as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson reveals the next steps in his coronavirus game plan.
This follows Scotland where authorities have already been enabled to undertake such actions.
Downing Street is hoping to push the new legislation through parliament in 14 days.
The laws will stay in place for two years as experts fear the majority of the population will be infected with the killer bug.
Mr Johnson also wants a lot more businesses to move towards “widespread working from home”.
The PM is working with the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser on plans to “stop various types of public event”.
It would ease the pressure on ambulances and the police.