Man faces 15 years in jail after refusing to quarantine, ended up infecting 11 other people with coronavirus

Until even just a few days ago there were still many people in this country and around the world who stubbornly insisted that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was no more dangerous than the flu. They argued that governments were hyping the whole thing up and making people hysterical for no good reason.

With each passing day, however, as desperate doctors beg people to stay home and the numbers continue to climb at an alarming rate, fewer and fewer people are making that ridiculous argument anymore.

In just a few days, the number of COVID-19 patients in the United States has skyrocketed to just under 165,000, with over 800,000 people affected worldwide. At the same time, the number of people who have succumbed to the disease also continues to climb, and intensive care units in hospitals around the world are overflowing with a disaster of unprecedented proportions.

And yet, there are still irresponsible people in virtually every country who continue to selfishly put the health of others at risk by refusing to self-isolate, even after they have been ordered to do so.

One example of this is a 24-year-old man from Argentina who, instead of self-isolating after returning from a trip to the United States, as he was legally obligated to do, decided to go out and party with 100 other people. Just days later, he was diagnosed with COVID-19, and tragically his selfish actions resulted in at least 11 other people also being diagnosed with the disease.

He now faces up to 15 years in prison for willfully spreading a contagious disease. (Related: Isolation, quarantine and social distancing — Practice these essential strategies to stop the spread of coronavirus.)

Dozens might be infected, and some could die

As reported by the U.K.’s Daily mail, Eric Torales could be facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for flagrantly disregarding Argentina’s quarantine law and attending a birthday party with 100 other people on his return to Buenos Aires from the United States on March 13.

The Mail reported:

Eric Torales returned to Buenos Aires from the United States on March 13 and celebrated the 15th birthday bash of a family friend in the town of Moreno the following day. …

News outlet Todo Noticias reported that on March 19 Torales experienced respiratory issues, one of the symptoms associated with the deadly disease, and visited Clinica Adventista, where he was admitted and placed in the intensive care unit after he later tested positive for COVID-19.

Among the 11 people who attended the party and subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus are two elderly people, aged 76 and 79, and the 15-year-old birthday girl herself.

At least 20 other party-goers are also under observation as a precaution, and health officials have asked that any other people who interacted with Torales after his return to Argentina should contact them urgently. (Related: More than 8000 Californians under “self-quarantine” for coronavirus, almost none of them tested… zero enforcement of “voluntary” quarantine measures… medical INSANITY on parade.)

The Mail reported further:

Torales, who was ordered to turn in his passport, was placed under house arrest Wednesday after he was discharged from the hospital. He will only be allowed to leave the home for medical appointments.

Prosecutors in the coming days will officially charge Torales with spreading a contagious disease. 

He could face three to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty of violating article 202 of the Penal Code. 

Let’s hope that people around the globe will take note of this story and think twice before they, too, put the health of others at risk by thinking only of themselves.

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Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TN.com.ar