Dentist Jailed For Treating 41 Patients During Mandatory Self-Quarantine In Perth

A dentist has been sentenced to two months of imprisonment in Perth, West Australia, for treating more than 40 patients during her supposed mandatory self-quarantine, ABC News reported.

Natalia Nairn, 31, flew back to Perth from Canberra on June 16 and was supposed to self-isolate at home for two weeks. Instead, she was found breaching quarantine rules.

Nairn treated a total of 41 patients at her clinic for eight days within the quarantine period. She reportedly went to her dental clinic even after the police had contacted her over the breach.

Matthew Walton, magistrate at Joondalup Magistrates Court, observed that Nairn’s blatant violation indicated her "complete disregard for the rules." He also noted that she could have been responsible for spreading the virus through the community. "The offender did pose a significant risk to the health and safety of West Australians," he added.

Nairn claimed that she had taken necessary safety precautions, such as wearing protective equipment when she traveled. However, the magistrate dismissed her claims, saying she had taken those measures "to fundamentally protect herself." Walton also slammed Nairn for claiming that she was "feeling fine." He labeled her excuse as "patently ridiculous" and "naive."

The court observed that although Nairn's COVID -19 test results came out negative, the up-close nature of her work meant that she had potentially put other people at risk, reported 7NEWS.

Nairn, who had no previous history of convictions, pleaded guilty on Oct 21. She was charged with eight offenses of failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act, which aims to "provide for the prompt and coordinated organization of emergency management in Western Australia."

Nairn has been sentenced for a period of seven months, of which she has to spend two months in prison.

In a similar incident of quarantine breach in Perth, a woman was sentenced to six months of imprisonment in August, BBC reported. Asher Faye Vander Sanden, 28, was permitted to fly home to Perth from Victoria, Southeast Australia. She was supposed to be on quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at her own expense. Instead of following protocols, she arrived secretly in a truck and stayed at her partner’s home, where she was later arrested.