Shortly before the World Health Organization said there could be a “tsunami” of COVID-19 coming, Australian authorities arrested a teen partying after testing positive.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19-year-old Kensington Park resident Ralph MacIntosh was charged with ignoring South Australia's 2004 Emergency Management Act health orders and he now faces a fine equal to $20,000 or two years in prison. Police announced the charges this week.
Authorities said the young man was informed by South Australia's public health system that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was expected to quarantine. Instead, he allegedly went to the Loverboy nightclub in Adelaide the evening of Dec. 17 and stayed at the club until early the following morning.
CBS News said MacIntosh was out on bail as of Tuesday and is expected to appear in court in February.
“These are very serious allegations, and if they're correct, I think this serves as a lesson to every single South Australian that they've got to abide by these restrictions, otherwise there are very heavy penalties,” Australian Premier Steven Marshall said.
In a statement to local media, the Loverboy nightclub said the teen put “150 patrons, staff and their families in harm's way,” according to the outlet. “Someone knowingly entering somewhere with a positive result should be considered an (offense) and we will be seeking justice,” the club said.
Loverboy was placed on a COVID-19 exposure site list by South Australia's health system. Patrons and staff who were there at the same time as MacIntosh were told to quarantine for seven days if vaccinated and for 14 days if unvaccinated.
CBS News reached out to the club but did not immediately hear back, said the outlet.
The teen’s arrest comes as the omicron variant continues to spread around the world. World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday there could be a storm of omicron and delta cases coming.
South Australia has recently implemented tighter COVID-19-related restrictions due to rising cases and omicron concerns.
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