Police will be able to detain suspected coronavirus patients in the UK for six weeks or fine them £1,000 under new emergency laws.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to push through legislation that gives authorities major power over suspected patents amid the Covid-19 crisis.
Cops will be able to detain or fine patients if they fail to comply, attempt to abscond, provide misleading information or obstruct health workers and police.
They will be able to ban certain travel too.
Immigration officers will also be able to detain people of all nationalities and order them to screening and quarantine.
Meanwhile doctors will be able to hold them beyond the 14-day quarantine if there is cause for concern.
The new measures are all part a 329-page Emergency Coronavirus Bill that is set to be pushed through in just days, reports The Times.
On the latest measures to be revealed, giving police and public health officials more power, the bill states: “We assume the vast majority of people will comply with relevant public health advice.
“The policy aim of these provisions is to ensure that proportionate measures can be enforced if and when necessary.
“The proposals will provide public health officers, constables and (in some circumstances) immigration officers with the means to enforce sensible public health restrictions, including returning people to places that they have been required to stay.”
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It comes as the government tries to step up its fight against the deadly disease that has killed 104 people in the UK and infected potentially 50,000.
As the death rate skyrockets, inquests are now likely be streamlined under the new bill and morgues increased.
Retired doctors and nurses will be given the opportunity to return to work without risking their pensions.
Ministers will have powers to shut down social gatherings, including house parties, while as a last resort airports, seaports and even the Eurostar could be closed to keep on top of border security.
The laws will also give powers for official closure of schools – which starts on Monday – and Brits will have access to Statutory Sick Pay from day one.
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And the bill will mean only one doctor rather than two is needed to detain someone under the mental health act and any doctor can sign a death certificate.
It comes after Mr Johnson at the start of this week pushed Britain closer to an Italy-style lockdown.
He urged Brits to stop non-essential travel and contact with others, and told workers to work from home where possible.
He urged people not to visit pubs, restaurants and theatres and told people over 70 or with underlying health conditions to stay at home for 12 weeks.
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And he told the nation that if one person within a household shows symptoms of Covid-19, the entire household must then isolate for two weeks.
Then on Thursday London – which is the hardest hit by the virus, accounting for 40% of the UK’s cases – edged closer to its own lockdown by shutting down up to 40 London Underground station.
It could also see places like pubs and restaurants forced to shut down in the coming days.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government is currently "doing everything we can to protect lives" based on expert advice, adding that measures "must be timed to maximise effectiveness".
- Coronavirus
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