Publicado
Fri, Jan 22, 2021, 18:55
- Anyone attending a gathering of more than 15 people will be liable under new Covid-19 laws.
Boris Johnson's government is introducing new Covid-19 fines in England for anyone caught attending house parties.
Guests at houses hosting 15 people or more will be liable for the £800 fine, the BBC reports. The previous penalty was £200—or £100 if paid within 28 days. If the new fine goes unpaid, it can double up to £6,400.
Home secretary Priti Patel announced the new law, which comes into play next week, at a news conference yesterday, January 21st. She was joined by the NHS's Dr. Vin Diwakar, who likened attending a house party to turning on your light during a blackout in WW2. That same day, the UK registered its highest daily death rate—1,820—of the pandemic.
"It doesn't just put you at risk in your house, it puts your whole street and the whole of your community at risk," Diwakar said.
The fine for the organisers of larger events—30 people or more—remains at £10,000. Last weekend, police in London alone issued £39,000-worth of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in two days, the BBC reports.
Photo credit: Jonah Brown