Man fined $5000 for breaking Taiwan Covid-19 quarantine for 8 seconds

A man in Taiwan (not pictured) has been fined a whopping $NZ5000 after breaking the country's strict Covid-19 quarantine regulations for just 8 seconds. Photo / AP

A man in Taiwan has been fined a whopping NZ$5000 after breaking the country's strict Covid-19 quarantine regulations for just 8 seconds.

The man, a migrant worker from the Philippines, was quarantining in a hotel in Kaohsiung City when he briefly stepped out of his room into the hallway, the city's Department of Health told Taiwan's Central News Agency.

During his 8 seconds in the hallway, he was caught on CCTV by staff.

They then contacted the Department of health.

He was then fined 100,000 Taiwan dollars, around NZ$5000.

Taiwan has one of the strictest Covid-19 quarantine restrictions in the world.

People are not allowed to leave their hotel rooms, not even for a second.

The man broke quarantine in a hotel in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Photo / Google Maps

The Department of Health said this serves as a warning to others not to break the rules, even for such a short period of time.

"People in quarantine should not think they won't be fined for leaving their hotel room."

There are 56 quarantine hotels in Kaohsiung City, with a total of around 3000 rooms, the department told CNA.

Taiwan has been praised as one of the world leaders in battling Covid-19.

The island of 23 million people has recorded just 716 cases and seven deaths.

The country has never had to impose strict lockdowns, instead focusing its attention to a speedy response.

Taiwanese officials started screening passengers on direct flights from Wuhan on December 31, 2019, when the world knew little about Covid-19 and its existence.

The government also invested in mass testing and quick and effective contact tracing.