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PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's government on Thursday issued a sub-decree imposing stiffer fines on people caught defying the COVID-19 quarantine rules.
The sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said quarantine violators will face a maximum fine of 1,250 U.S. dollars, up from the current 250 U.S. dollars.
It said people who flee from the quarantine facility or refuse to give their samples for COVID-19 tests are subject to the fines.
It added that anyone who "intentionally initiates, leads, advises, incites, persuades or helps" people to escape from the quarantine facility will be given a fine of between 2,500 U.S. dollars and 12,500 U.S. dollars.
The sub-decree said the offenders must pay the fines within 30 days or their cases will be sent to the court for prosecution.
The move came after reports of quarantine breach by Cambodian citizens in recent days.
Under the kingdom's health rules, people entering the country must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated quarantine centers.
The Southeast Asian country has seen a remarkable success in containing the spread of COVID-19. The kingdom has so far recorded a total of 483 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with zero deaths and 470 recoveries, according to data issued by its health ministry. Enditem