New COVID-19 Laws That Goverment Announced Quietly at Midnight Spark Backlash

Several new rules, fines, and punishment regarding violation of self-isolation measures in the midst of the pandemic have been imposed in England.

Ministers have updated the legislation so that the police will be given powers to ensure people are strictly observing the emergency measures.

People who recklessly leave self-isolation will be fined £4,000 fines for their first offense and up to £10,000 during their second and third offenses if they consistently refuse to stay at home. 

During contact tracing, people who test positive may maliciously force others into isolation by falsely telling authorities that they could have been in contact with people who have the virus. This kind of act will now be illegal and will be penalized a £1,000 fine.

The government is requiring employers to have a record of their employees who should be under isolation. Any staff must inform their employers about the start and end date of their isolation so that employers will not force workers to come into the office. Any employee who failed to tell their employers about this situation and tried to go to work will be fined a fixed penalty notice of £50. 

(Photo: pixabay)

Pubs and other venues from England are also banned from playing loud music exceeding 85 decibels and allowing more than 6 people to sing and dance around the premises. Exemptions only apply to the couple during weddings and civil partnerships. 

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that imposing these new rules is for people to do the right thing and not recklessly exposed their friends, families, and communities to health risks.

Those who have tested positive must self-isolate for 10 days after displaying symptoms, but for asymptomatic people, they should isolate starting from their test date. Members of the same household must isolate for 14 days.

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Backlash Received

Because of the way these fines were introduced without a vote from the public, they received furious backlash from Tory backbenchers who were already unhappy with the way ministers are freelancing new legislation without scrutiny from Parliament. Civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch has condemned the way the changes were announced as it feels like the government is legislating every part of their lives.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons that he will hold a further meeting with a Tory MP who wants to scrutinize government-imposed coronavirus restrictions. According to Mr. Hancock, he will meet the chairman of the influential Tory backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady, including other Tories to discuss matters further.  

Mr. Hancock told MPs that he welcomed the scrutiny that this House gives. However former chief whip Mark Harper insisted that because the law came in at midnight, there were details that were not mentioned in the previous statement a week before, which is why there is a need to scrutinize the detail of the legislation before it comes into force.

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