A COVID-19 patient in Hong Kong that escaped from the hospital was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for four months for violating the Prevention & Control of Disease Regulation, the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts ruled on Friday.

The patient, a 63-year-old man surnamed Lee, left the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on December 18, 2020 without permission. He was found by the police two days later and sent back to the hospital.

In the court, Lee told the magistrate that he fled because he was afraid of injections.

According to the regulation, a person shall not, knowing that he is a contact or is infected with a specified infectious disease, expose other people to the risk of infection by the person's presence or conduct in any public conveyance or any street, public place, place of entertainment or assembly, club or hotel or by carrying on any trade, business or occupation.

Offenders face a maximum fine of HK$5,000 (about $645) and imprisonment of up to six months.