Less than a week after the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit issued a class order requiring anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 to self-isolate for 14 days, Peterborough Public Health has followed suit.
On Monday (April 20), Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra signed the class order, made under section 22 of Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act. The order, which went into effect at 12 p.m. on Monday, comes with a penalty of up to $5,000 per day for anyone who fails to self-isolate as required.
Police assistance can be ordered for people who do not willingly comply.
The Peterborough Public Health order applies to anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is awaiting test results, anyone who has symptoms of the disease, and anyone who has been in close contact with people in the previous two categories.
Under the order, these people must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days. Public health officials may extend the period of isolation depending upon symptoms and test results.
Self-isolation means staying at home and not having any visitors. People in self-isolation should arrange to have groceries and other necessities delivered to them.
The order applies to all residents of the City and County of Peterborough. Although Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, which are under the purview of Peterborough Public Health, are not named in the order, Dr. Salvaterra will be working cooperatively with the First Nations governments to include their residents in the order.
COVID-19 Class Order – Peterborough Public Health
Section-22-Order-2020-04-20
There are some exemptions to the order. Close contacts of people diangosed or suspected have having COVID-19, who are asymptomatic and provide an essential service, may continue to provide that essential service. The order also does not restrict a person from receiving essential medical services or treatments, whether or not related to COVID-19.
Other exceptions may be made in special circumstances, such has people who do not have suitable housing to self-isolate or who are fleeing domestic violence. If a person with COVID-19 is homeless, or where their home is otherwise unsuitable or unsafe for isolation purposes, assistance with accommodations will be provided.
The Peterborough Public Health order is in addition to the federal government’s order made under the Quarantine Act, which imposes a 14-day home quarantine on all Canadians returned from out-of-country travel regardless of whether they have symptoms of COVID-19.
More details about the class order are available on the Peterborough Public Health website, where you can also report complaints related to people who are not self-isolating.
