A private clinic operator in Beijing who illegally treated a patient with fever which led to a risk of COVID-19 spreading was sentenced to jail for six months for impairing the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases by a court in Beijing on Wednesday.
A restaurant worker surnamed Hu who shopped on June 4 at Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing where the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred last June and July, went to Yujingge clinic operated by the offender surnamed Cui after he had symptoms since June 8.
Between June 8 and 10 in 2020, Cui refused to implement the relevant measures for prevention and control of COVID-19 proposed by the disease prevention and control authority in accordance with the laws, illegally received and treated Hu, and failed to report to the health and epidemic prevention department or take other control measures as required in a timely manner.
As a result, Hu was not confirmed as infected with COVID-19 or placed under control in time, which caused more close contacts and led to a severe risk of the spreading of the virus. Hu was later confirmed as being infected with COVID-19.
Cui was apprehended by police on May 6 this year and charged with impairing the prevention and treatment of the infectious diseases by the procuratorate who suggested a six-month prison sentence.
Cui confessed his crime and acknowledged the suggestion of the sentencing. His clinic was revoked on April 23 this year.
Beijing City Dongcheng District People's Court gave Cui a lighter punishment of six months in jail in accordance with the laws considering that he truthfully confessed the facts of the crime and voluntarily confessed.