RIYADH – People infected with coronavirus who fail to comply with the precautionary guidelines and instructions issued by the health authorities and end up infecting others will be subject to hefty fines, Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday citing a stern warning from the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution has asserted that the any failure to comply with the coronavirus guidelines will attract a fine up to SR100,000 and a five-year jail term, or one of these two penalties. It added that this does not exclude the victim demanding compensation. Article 1 of the Regulation on Protection from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) stipulates that a person suffering from AIDS is forbidden from violating the preventative guidelines. He is also banned from practicing any activity that may transmit the infection to others. As for the coronavirus pandemic, since the cause of infection is more closely related to the rapid spread of the virus, it calls for a harsher penalty for any violation. The Public Prosecution added that the Ministry of Health and other public health authorities refer the violation, resulting from breaching the rules of the abovementioned article, to Public Prosecution to consider filing a case at the competent court.
