24-year-old Eric Torales has been accused of spreading coronavirus in Argentina after refusing to follow self-isolation rules and attended a friend’s birthday party despite returning from another country.

Torales went to a party in Moreno, near Buenos Aires city. According to Argentinian publication Todo Noticas, 11 people have been infected after the event.

The government imposed a law that requires people returning from other countries to self-isolate for 14 days.

Authorities are now searching for anyone who met with Torales after he returned from the USA to Argentina on March 13.

According to reports, Torales tested positive for coronavirus five days after the party, which was attended by around 100 people.

If found guilty of spreading the highly contagious disease, Torales could face up to 15 years imprisonment.

He has been placed under house arrest and his passport has also been confiscated. He can only leave the house for medical appointments.

Federal prosecutor Santiago Marquevich said: “The day after his return to the country and despite the provisions established in the decree of necessity and urgency number 260/2020, issued on March 12, 2020 by the President of the Argentine Nation, which compelled him to remain at his home for a term of 14 days, the accused decided to go to the event.”

This comes after quarantine laws were passed. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said at that time: “I’m going to be inflexible on this, anyone who has to be in quarantine is going to follow it, and if they don’t, we’re going to pursue them criminally.”

The website of Baker McKenzie, a multinational law firm, reads: “From a criminal standpoint, sections 202, 203 and 205 from the Argentine Criminal Code establish diverse sentences that can go up to 15 years of imprisonment for any individual who propagates dangerous and/or contagious diseases for people.”

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