South Korea Authorizes Prison Time for MERS Patients Who Break Quarantine
South Korea tightened quarantine restrictions on patients at risk of being infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus, declaring that those who defy orders or lie about their potential exposure are now subject to prison terms. Health officials announced that violators could face up to two years in prison and a fine of 20 million won, or approximately 18,000. Currently, defying quarantine can result in a fine but not a jail sentence. The new law, which grants greater authority to public health investigators, does not take effect for another six months. The latest tally for the disease reached 181 confirmed cases and 31 confirmed deaths since the outbreak began last month. New York Times