A 50-year-old man from Buzău county, in eastern Romania, received a six-month suspended prison sentence for tampering with efforts to combat diseases after leaving the hospital without the doctors' approval before the results of his Covid-19 test came back.

It is the first sentence issued in a Covid-19-related case, Mediafax reported.

In April, he was taken to the Buzău County Hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties. The doctors decided to admit him since his symptoms were similar to those of a Covid-19 infection and he had been in contact with his son, who had returned from a red zone of Italy. He left the hospital, however, before receiving the results of the Covid-19 test.

The Police located him a few hours later, and he was brought back to the hospital and placed under quarantine. 

His Covid-19 test came back negative. 

This September, the Buzău Court ruled a six-month suspended prison sentence against him. He will have to do community work and enroll in a social reintegration program. 

By mid-June of this year, 617 cases had been opened for tampering with efforts to combat diseases and false statements. Of these, 270 were closed, while 16 were sent to court, Mediafax reported.

(Photo: Akvaphoto2012/ Dreamstime)

simona@romania-insider.com