A new class order from Southwestern public health will give them the authority to impose hefty fines for anyone breaking self-isolation or quarantine that has COVID-19.
The Southwestern Public Health building in St. Thomas. Derek Ruttan/Postmedia Network
A new class order from Southwestern public health will give them the authority to impose hefty fines for anyone breaking self-isolation or quarantine that has COVID-19.
Dr. Joyce Lock, the health unit’s medical officer of health, issued the order Thursday morning to take effect at midnight.
The order will also have people who are showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or are waiting for test results to also stay quarantined or self-isolated.
Lock said the order was decided on to help contain any possible spread of the virus while the region and province are re-opening during stage three.
“The health unit wanted to be prepared because we are expecting an upswing of cases as we go into stage three. By opening up more, there will be more opportunity for transmission. … We also need workplaces to be prepared. The message is we’re asking people to self-isolate as soon as possible.”
Lock noted that by asking people who show any symptoms to stay home, businesses will likely see more absenteeism than usual.
However, she stressed it’s essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in communities.
“We’re now concerned as we open up more we may have community spread. We’d like people to behave in a way that as soon as they themselves may have COVID symptoms they become aware it’s important from the get-go to self-isolate. … The earlier we get people to self-isolate, the better it will be to contain the spread.”
Public health inspectors and enforcement officers from Southwestern public health will enforce the order, Lock said.
Anyone breaking the order can be charged and fined up to $5,000 for each day the offence occurs.
The Southwestern public health region has been amongst the lowest per capita for positive tests, according to data from Public Health Ontario. Lock said that’s a sign people are taking the pandemic serious and are following public health guidelines.
“We’ve been very fortunate in our communities that our citizens are cooperative and that’s how I think we’ve done so well. We expect people to continue to be cooperative. We do expect more cases so we seek people’s cooperation not only from a call from public health, but to take the initiative themselves.”
It’s the second class order issued by Southwestern public health under the province’s Health Protection and Promotion Act.
The health unit issued their first class order July 8 that required all farmers in Oxford and Elgin counties to follow 22 measures to protect agricultural workers.
The measures cover physical-distancing practices, guidelines for accommodations and screening practices.
The order was later amended on July 10 after hearing from local farming federations to allow individual workers who have isolated to work on different farms.
Many health units in the province have issued the face covering policy for indoor public spaces. The class order is further direction in ensuring people don’t let their guard down, Lock said.
“Unlike our earlier educational approach, this is about people do what they must do. This is a need to do.”
