TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei’s Department of Health confirmed on Sunday (April 17) that an 18-year-old who tested positive for COVID-19 and violated home care regulations will be fined NT$1.5 million (US$52,500).

According to the health department, the boy, who lives in the city’s Sanxia District, tested positive on Thursday (April 14). His family and girlfriend also tested positive, and the entire family was placed under home care, CNA reported.

The teen violated home care rules by going out to play basketball with others and to buy his girlfriend birthday presents, according to the report. He posted about where he had been, including photos on Instagram, which attracted the attention of the health department.

Department officials, accompanied by police, went to his residence to check on him and found that he was indeed not home. He has since been sent to a quarantine center.

The health department said the boy will be fined NT$1.5 million for deliberately leaving behind his cellphone to avoid the electronic fence, leaving home, and posting his whereabouts to social media to challenge the authorities, per CNA.

Article 13 of the Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens states, "Individuals suffering from or suspected of suffering from severe pneumonia with novel pathogens fail to abide by the instructions of competent health authorities of any level and thus are at risk of infecting others shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or criminal detention and may in addition thereto, be imposed with a fine of no less than NT$200,000 and no more than NT$2 million."