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Southwestern Public Health is taking steps to ensure compliance with its COVID-19 public health orders, geared toward any residents failing to comply with self-isolation instructions.
The key issue is the quarantine of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Oxford and Elgin Counties; those who have the signs and symptoms and are waiting for test results; those who have reasonable grounds to believe they have symptoms of COVID-19 or those who are a close contact; or any of the above.
All residents are required to follow the self-isolation requirements, and those who do not can be charged and fined up to $5,000 per day for every day the offence occurs or continues. The new Class Order, issued by Dr. Joyce Lock, SWP Medical Officer of Health, is in place until further notice.
“Largely, the residents of this region have been doing what they can and should do,” said Dr. Lock in a media release. “Most of us want to keep our friends, family and neighbours safe. But occasionally Public Health needs the legal means to enforce best practices related to infection prevention and control. This Order gives us the authority to do that should it be required.”