Police will be able to force people suspected of having coronavirus to be testedPolice will have the power to detain and quarantine people for up to six weeks under new emergency laws designed to stop the spread of coronavirus. People will be committing a crime and will face fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to comply, attempt to abscond, provide misleading information or obstruct health workers and police. Immigration officers will be given more limited powers to detain people of all nationalities, including Britons, and direct them to screening and quarantine. The Government acknowledged that the powers were “likely to result in some controversy”. Prime minister pledges to ‘turn the tide’ on coronavirus crisisThe new laws, tabled in the Commons today, enable constables to detain people suspected of having the virus for an initial period of up to 48 hours and refer them for screening.

Source: The Times March 19, 2020 17:15 UTC