The central and state governments in India seem to have unleashed its full might on coronavirus pandemic. Every possible and potential coronavirus suspect is being traced, quarantined or isolated if she turns out to be positive for Covid-19.

Most of the positive novel coronavirus cases in India are sourced from abroad. Though, some second stage infections have also happened. Some experts fear community to community spread, the third stage of outbreak when it becomes really dangerous.

There have been reports that individuals have tried to evade the government authorities tasked with containing the spread of coronavirus in India. This can have serious repercussions. For example, the first person to die of Covid-19 in India was a 75-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia. When he showed symptoms, and was advised coronavirus test, he ignored the same not once but twice.

Similarly, reports point to deliberate attempts to dodge the agencies by some of the suspects including foreign nationals. In one such case, all the passengers were offloaded from a flight in Kerala as a group of foreign tourists had exposure to coronavirus.

A British national in the group had tested positive for coronavirus infection. That person had earlier been advised isolation on the ground of being a Covid-19 suspect. When test reports came, the authorities learnt the person had joined the group of tourist to fly out.

In Uttar Pradesh, authorities have threatened to take legal action against the family of a Covid-19 patient. The family is accused of "misleading" the health officials by giving inaccurate travel details, and also of violating the direction for home isolation for 14 days after returning from a country on the red list.

The punitive action flows from the Epidemic Disease Act of 1897, originally framed by the British rulers in India. It had been drafted to fight bubonic plague in then Bombay. Many states have invoked the Epidemic Disease Act after the central government advised to do so.

Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act makes advisories issued by health department enforceable and empowers the state to prosecutie violators. Section 3 of the same law says individuals disobeying regulations are punishable and can be jailed up to one month.

The Uttar Pradesh authorities have said an FIR will be lodged against the family of the Covid-19 under Sections 269 (an act of negligence that is likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (an act of malignance that is likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code. These IPC Sections provide for imprisonment up to two years and fine.

The central government has declared coronavirus outbreak a notified disaster. Uttar Pradesh and some affected states have declared coronavirus outbreak epidemic.

With invoking of the Epidemic Act, the district authorities now have the power to enforce regulations inspect those who have travelled to coronavirus affected regions, and segregate the individuals suspected to carry infection by putting them under quarantine at home, hospital or some other place.

The Epidemic Act has been used many times in Independent India. Recent invocattions were in the cases of swine flu and dengue. In 2018, the Vadodara district administration in Gujarat enforced the Epidemic Diseases Act to control spread of cholera.

Invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act points to the evasive tendency among the people with possible coronavirus exposure. Health authorities including in states such as Kerala have expressed their concern saying this "irrespoinsible" behaviour by those suspected of coronavirus exposure.

At least three people with travel history to Italy hid this fact from the authorites. They tested positive when forced to undergo medical examination by the authorities who traced them later.

In Odisha, an Irish national placed by authorites under isolation at a government hospital along with another individual quietly fled. The authorities were forced to file complaint against them. Similar instances were reported from Punjab and Jammu.