The Australian police have arrested a young man in his twenties for refusing to undergo quarantine after learning that he was infected with the coronavirus. Anthony Karam, 27, learned of his COVID-19 infection about two weeks ago and fled from the mandatory quarantine location, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt for him.
Australian authorities released footage showing the moments of Karam's arrest on Thursday evening in the Sydney area, where the young man was seen coughing, demonstrating the danger he posed to the community, despite being provided with protective masks by the authorities. Karam has been described as "Public Health Enemy Number One" in Australia.
When confronted by reporters while being escorted, the young man insisted that he did not commit any wrongdoing, claiming he had evidence to prove otherwise. However, the authorities are not convinced by his statements, as he faces 13 charges, including appearing in public places, facilitating the spread of the virus, and non-compliance with COVID-19 control measures, including self-isolation. The man is also facing charges for not wearing a face mask in enclosed spaces.
According to local reports, Karam refused to respond to calls from public health officials, which forced them to summon the police. The police later discovered that the address he provided was false. Due to his escape from the supposed isolation location, authorities feared that he could infect thousands, particularly after his positive diagnosis for the disease.
