AFP
Russian lawmakers have proposed imposing severe punishments -- including up to seven years in prison -- for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules. Legislation due to be discussed yesterday foresees fines of between 500,000 rubles ($6,400) and two million rubles ($25,700) for violating a quarantine. If a quarantine dodger were found guilty of causing a person's death or intentionally infecting many people, they would face up to five years in prison, and up to seven years if two or more people died. The Duma will consider the proposed legislation next Tuesday. Russia, which has a population of 144 million people, reported 658 cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the public vote on his constitutional reforms must be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and declared next week a public holiday.