Three sentenced for illegal border crossing amid COVID-19 pandemic

The people's court in Ruili City in southwest China's Yunnan Province tried a case of illegally crossing China's borders during the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control period, and the three defendants were sentenced to eight months in prison and fined 5,000 yuan each.

In April this year, the three defendants illegally crossed the border from Ruili to Myanmar, and were later arrested when they returned to China.

The three defendants ignored the laws and regulations of the state on exit and entry administration and illegally crossed the border during the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control period, which greatly increased the possibility of infection and brought many risks and hidden dangers to the epidemic prevention and control work as well as the safety and health of the people, according to the court.

Ruili City in southwest China's Yunnan Province will launch citywide nucleic acid testing after two COVID-19 cases from overseas were reported in the city, local authorities said on Monday, adding that both patients are Myanmar nationals who entered China illegally through Ruili. One of them was previously diagnosed as an asymptomatic case.