Over the last few weeks, Dominica has been faced with a surge of the COVID-19 virus on island. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, an Emergency Powers (Curfew) Order came into effect on August 3, 2021. This Order was extended over a period of three weeks and will come to an end on Monday, August 23rd at 6:00pm.
The Regulations will make provision for the Chief Medical Officer or any doctor authorised by him to isolate or place under surveillance any case or suspected case of COVID-19 or any carrier or suspected carrier or any contact of such persons.
In keeping with the new protocols for home isolation, a Medical Officer shall require a person who is isolated at home to wear a wristband. The wristband shall only be removed by an authorized medical professional when the person is medically cleared.
I wish to state that under this Order, a person who fails to comply with a requirement to be placed in quarantine or isolation, removes a wristband without authorization, or absconds from isolation, commits an offense.
Under the Environmental Health Services Act, failure to comply with measures imposed in connection with isolation or quarantine carries a penalty of up to $10,000.
The SRO includes a requirement to notify the Ministry of Health if a person who may have come into contact with someone who has travelled to a country affected with COVID-19 or a person who is infected by COVID-19, develops symptoms.
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