(Yicai Global) Feb. 18 -- The Minhang District People's Court of Shanghai today sentenced a man to 18 months in prison after he beat a volunteer aiding efforts in the control of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The prosecutor and defense both attended the court online to avoid further spreading the disease, The Paper reported. The case is the first of its kind in Shanghai.

The defendant, a man surnamed Ling, pushed the victim and caused a minor injury, according to the report. Ling's acquaintance, a person surnamed Mao, had been trying to enter Ling's community but the volunteer had prevented this, saying only vehicles owned by community residents could enter. Mao called Ling, who came with his wife to meet Mao at the gate.

Ling and his wife were angry with the volunteer and Ling shoved the victim, the report said.

Many residential communities throughout China have been closing their gates to non-residents in a bid to help curb the novel coronavirus epidemic, including 13,000 in Shanghai.

Editor: James Boynton