A court in Chengwu county, Shandong province, sentenced a man to 10 months in prison on Sunday during an online public trial for interfering with the prevention and treatment of an infectious disease.

The man, surnamed Tian, had returned to his home in Chengwu from Hubei province, the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak, on Jan 9. Ten days later, he sought medical attention for fever and cough, but he concealed his stay in Hubei from the doctors.

Though suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus on Jan 25, he refused to be quarantined and requested discharge from the hospital.

The next day, the infection was confirmed, exposing 37 patients in his hospital ward and bringing on a quarantine of the medical staff.

Under the law governing prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, entities and individuals in China should accept investigations, inspections, sample collection, isolation and treatment and truthfully provide relevant information.

The court said Tian violated the law by refusing to comply with instructions. His behaviors led to critical risks to 37 people, it said.