The Ministry of Health has indicated to the government that the Covid-19 Infection Control Law states that the Health Inspectorate has the right to involve the State Police or the municipal police in the supervision of persons quarantined or isolated.
In its turn, the Law on Epidemiological Safety stipulates that the competence of the Health Inspectorate in the field of Epidemiological Safety includes the right to control the fulfillment of mandatory self-isolation (home quarantine) and isolation conditions, as well as to administratively punish guilty persons.
The Health Inspectorate is competent to deal with Covid-19 administrative violation cases, the special subject of which is Covid-19 infected persons and Covid-19 contact persons.
Between 1 July and 1 October, 105 administrative infringement cases were received and 44 cases were initiated. Penalties applied in 18 cases. In 13 cases, a fine of between 10 and 25 euros was imposed, but there was a case where a person was fined 2,000 euros.
Covid-19 infected persons and contact persons are supervised by the Inspectorate in case of suspicion, the State Police or the municipal police are involved, but the Inspectorate continues the proceedings of the administrative violation process. Both police and inspection resources are also spent on preparing and transferring cases. Sometimes the case materials have to be returned to the police because they are incomplete and cannot be decided.
The Ministry of Health considers that amendments to regulatory enactments are necessary so that the administrative records of administrative violation proceedings can be fully performed by one institution, namely, the police can constantly make a decision on penalties in cases of quarantine and isolation violations.
The amendments would also provide that the police would automatically receive the necessary information for decision-making, namely about the person’s obligation to comply with quarantine or isolation.
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