This is serious stuff - the Regional Officer of Health has issued a Class Order; failure to comply could result in a $5000 fine.

CLASS ORDER

Made pursuant to section 22(5.0.1) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.H.7, as amended

May 22, 2020

TO:  All persons residing or present in The Regional Municipality of Halton1(“Halton Region”) who:

a. Are identified as a person diagnosed with COVID-19;

b. Have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results of their test;

c. Otherwise have reasonable grounds to believe they now have one or more symptoms(even mild symptoms) of COVID-19, or have had such symptom(s) within the past 14 days;

d. A re a close contact of a person identified in a., b. or c.; or

e.  Are a parent, or person with responsibilities of a parent, of a person under 16 years of age identified in a., b., c. or

d.  who resides or is present in Halton Region.

NOTE:The symptoms of COVID-19 and what is “close contact” are explained below.

I, Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, The Regional Municipality of Halton (Halton Region Public Health), ORDER YOU TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS, effective12:01 a.m. on May 22, 2020:

1. Isolate yourself immediately and remain in isolation from all other persons (“self-isolation”).

While in self-isolation you must conduct yourself so you do not expose any another person to infection or possible infection from COVID-19.

The instructions you must follow are set out in paragraph 3 below.

2. Remain in self-isolation:i.If you are a person described in a., b. or c. above, you must remain in self-isolation for 14 days after the day on which you first showed symptom(s)of COVID-19, were tested for COVID-19 or were diagnosed with COVID-19, whichever is earliest, as long as on the 14thday you have no fever and your other symptom(s) are improving.

“No fever” means that your temperature is 37.7 degrees Celsius or lower. 1Halton Region Health Unit as designated by s.1 and Schedule 11 of R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 553 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

2  If you have a fever and/or your other symptom(s)are not improving on the 14thday, contact Halton Region Public Health for direction: 311 (in Halton) or toll-free 1-866-442-5866. If you have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and remain in hospital 14 days after your symptom(s) began, you need testing to be cleared from self-isolation. This will be done at the hospital.

ii.If you are a person described in d. above, you must remain in self-isolation until 14 daysafterthe day on which you last had close contact with a person described in paragraphs a., b. or c. above.

iii. If you have questions about what you must do, contact Halton Region Public Health for direction: 311(in Halton) or toll-free 1-866-442-5866.3.The instructions you must follow during self-isolation are in the Public Health Ontario fact sheet, How to Self-Isolate dated April 10, 2020 (or as current), attached as Schedule 1 to this Order.

All instructions in How to Self-Isolate(attached) form part of this Order.This fact sheet may be updated from time to time. You must follow the instructions in the current version attached to this Order as posted at: www.halton.ca/COVID19.4.

Inform Halton Region Public Health if you need help to properly self-isolate or while you are self-isolating, e.g., food, water, accommodation, clothing, appropriate medical treatment and family or other religious arrangements. To do so, contact Halton Region Public Health at: 311 (in Halton) or toll-free 1-866-442-5866.5.

Seek immediate medical attention if your illness is worsening(e.g., you have difficulty breathing) by calling 911. Tell them of your COVID-19 diagnosis or symptom(s)and answer all screening questions accurately (including symptom and travel history) so that you will receive appropriate care and the right infection prevention and control precautions are taken.

3. The instructions you must follow during self-isolation are in the Public Health Ontario fact sheet, How to Self-Isolatedated April 10, 2020 (or as current), attached as Schedule 1 to this Order. All instructions in How to Self-Isolate(attached) form part of this Order.This fact sheet may be updated from time to time. You must follow the instructions in the current version attached to this Order as posted at: www.halton.ca/COVID19.

4. Inform Halton Region Public Health if you need helpto properly self-isolate or while you are self-isolating, e.g., food, water, accommodation, clothing, appropriate medical treatment and family or other religious arrangements. To do so, contact Halton Region Public Health at: 311 (in Halton) or toll-free 1-866-442-5866

5.  Seek immediate medical attention if your illness is worsening(e.g., you have difficulty breathing) by calling 911. Tell them of your COVID-19 diagnosis or symptom(s)and answer all screening questions accurately (including symptom and travel history) so that you will receive appropriate care and the right infection prevention and control precautions are taken.

6. The requirements of this Order are subject to necessary modifications for the following people, who should contact Halton Region Public Health for direction specific to their circumstances (311 in Halton or toll-free 1-866-442-5866):

i. A person who, in my opinion as Medical Officer of Health, provides an essential service, for the limited purpose of providing that essential service;

ii. A person receiving essential medical services or treatments, whether related to COVID-19 or not; or

iii. Where a person’s self-isolation, in my opinion as Medical Officer of Health, would not be in the public interest.

7. Follow any further directions provided to you personally by Halton Region Public Healthpertaining to COVID-19 and the terms of this Order.

8. As provided by section 23 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, the terms of this Order apply to all persons under 16 years of age as served upon their parent(s), and any other person(s) who have the responsibilities of a parent, in relation to the person under 16 years of age, who shall ensure compliance with the Order by the person under 16 years of age.

The reasons for this Order are that:1.COVID-19, a disease caused by a novel coronavirus, is designated as a disease of public health significance and a communicable disease pursuant to Ontario Regulation 135/18 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.2.COVID-19 can cause acute and severe respiratory illness in humans.

The spread of COVID-19 is of immediate and compelling public health importance in Halton Region:

a.On January 23, 2020, Halton Region Public Health initiated its Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan in response to COVID-19;

b.On March 11, 2020, the spread of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization;

c. On March 17, 2020 the spread of COVID-19 was declared an emergency in Ontario pursuant to the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.E.9, as amended, on the basis that COVID-19 constitutes a danger of major proportions;

d. On March 23, 2020, Halton Region declared a State of Emergency in support of Ontario’s efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic;

6. As of end of day on May 20, 2020, Ontario’s Ministry of Health reports:

a. 24,187 confirmed cases, including 1,993 deaths, for an overall case fatality rate of about 8%;

b. About 13% of cases have ever been hospitalized;c.Of those hospitalized, about 22% have received ICU care.

7.  As of end of day on May 20, 2020, Halton Region reports:

a .595 confirmed and 75 probable cases of COVID-19, including 25 deaths, for an overall case fatality rate of 4%;

b. About 13% of cases have ever been hospitalized;

c. Of those hospitalized, about 19% have received ICU care.

8. The number of cases and deaths continues to rise in Halton region and Ontario

9 .COVID-19 is now present in Halton region and therefore poses a risk to the health of the residents of Halton region.

10.The COVID-19 virus is spread from an infected person to a close contact by direct contact or when respiratory secretions from the infected person enter the eyes, nose or mouth of another person.

11.To contain the spread of COVID-19, individuals experiencing one or more symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who are infected with COVID-19, as well as their close contacts, are required to isolate themselves from other people and remain in isolation until they are no longer infectious or potentially infectious; self-isolation reduces the risk that these people will spread their infection to others.

I am of the opinion, on reasonable and probable grounds that:

a. a communicable disease, COVID-19, exists or may exist or there is an immediate risk of an outbreak of this communicable disease in the health unit served by me;

b. this communicable disease presents a risk to the health of persons in the health unit served by me; and

c. the requirements specified in this Order are necessary in order to decrease or eliminate the risk to health presented by this communicable disease.

I am also of the opinion that the delivery of notice of this Order to each and every member of the class to whom it is directed is likely to cause a delay that could significantly increase the risk to the health of any person residing in Halton region, so notice shall be provided through the public media and the internet via posting at: www.halton.ca/COVID19.

The following definitions apply to this Order:

“Close contact”means you are a person who, within the past 14 days:

Provided care for a COVID-19 patient, including health care workers, family member or other caregivers; or

Had other similar close physical contact with a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 while the case was ill;or

Lived with or otherwise had close, prolonged contact with a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 while the case was ill; or

Have been identified by Halton Region Public Health as a close contact of a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.

“Halton Region Public Health”means the Medical Officer of Health or Halton Region Public Health staff acting under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health.

“Symptoms”of COVID-19as listed on the Halton Region website, halton.ca/COVID19.

TAKE NOTICE THAT each member of the class to whom this Order is directed is entitled to a hearing by the Health Services Appeal and Review Board if the member has delivered notice in writing to me (at the address below) and to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (at 151 Bloor Street West, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4) requesting a hearing within 15 days after publication of this Order or otherwise in accordance with applicable law. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak:

All requests for review, submissions, materials, and inquiries should be sent to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board by e-mail to hsarb@ontario.ca or faxed to the Board at 416-327-8524.

Instead of mail or courier, you may email your request for review to me at: accesshalton@halton.ca. Should you wish to do so, however, please carefully consider the use of electronic communication for sensitive information. Halton Region will use reasonable means to protect your information but, due to the inherent risks of electronic communication, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT although a hearing may be requested this Order takes effect when it is delivered to a member of the class or brought to the attention of a member of the class.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER may result in further legal action being taken against you under sections 36(2), 35, 102 and other relevant provisions of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER is an offence under section 101 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act for which you may be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not more that $5,000.00 (for a person) for every day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues. If you have any questions about this Order, please contact Halton Region Public Health by telephone at 311 (in Halton) or toll-free 1-866-442-5866, or by e-mail to accesshalton@halton.ca

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4 comments to This is serious stuff – the Regional Officer of Health has issued a Class Order; failure to comply could result in a $5000 fine.

  • Penny Hersh

    I totally agree with everything that has been said about the failure at the start of this pandemic and which unfortunately seems to be continuing . However, we can spend our time pointing out all the shortcomings of our Public Health System in helping to stop the spread of Covid -19, or focus on how to move forward.

    We all knew about the shortcomings in staffing and cleanliness in long-term care homes. We also knew the system was broken with care-givers needing to work in more than one home because they were given part-time positions to avoid being paid benefits, patients waiting in hospitals for months as there were no beds available for them in a long-term facility. This has been a disaster waiting to happen, and it did.

    In my opinion we definitely have to do more testing, and not just for those who exhibit symptoms of the disease. It is late at that point in time to stop the spread. How many people have been infected in the 14 day incubation period between when their symptoms first appeared?

    All around the world countries are mandating wearing fabric face masks when in public, not just when physical distancing is a problem. Health Professionals are indicating that this is very important, yet in Ontario this has not been mandated. Our Prime Minister is shown wearing a mask.

    We have been told by health professionals that 6 feet apart is the minimum for physical distancing – 9 feet is now suggested. Also that on a windy day the need is greater not to be near each other.

    If everyone wore a face mask when out we would be protecting each other. Yes, masks can be uncomfortable, hot, and not what most people would want to wear with summer coming. In life, there are things we have to do that we don’t necessarily want to but we do ( we tell our children this all the time as they are growing up).

    Local farmer’s markets are opening – will all vendors be wearing masks and gloves (changing them often) when serving customers? Washing of hands is the best way of dealing with this virus, however, running water is not typically available at these vegetable stands.

    I personally will not purchase anything from a vendor who is at the very least not wearing a mask. If for no other reason that they don’t feel an obligation to protect their customers.

    Once people start going back to work and stores open residents will be going to Toronto and other cities where there is more exposure and then coming back to their homes. This is the time to be more vigilant.

    There has been a spike in Covid 19 cases since Mother’s Day, because people didn’t stay home.

    Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto on Saturday was a perfect example that people do not think of others and who they will effect, and as the police indicated in an interview it is impossible to manage this situation.”Dangerous and Selfish Behaviour”. Fourteen days from now should tell the tale.

    If Ontario is unable to meet the need of massive testing and if people are not prepared to think of others to police themselves, then governments need to do it for them.

  • Don Fletcher

    Public Health has failed us during this pandemic. Not locking down Long Term Care facilities immediately, when the first 2 cases in North America were in Kirkland, Wash. & Vancouver, B.C LTCs. Testing 2500/day in Ontario in early April when we had a 13,000/day capacity. Forecasting on April 3rd that Ontario would have 80,000 cases by April 30th, 500% over the 16,187 that really materialized. The list is endless.

    In my opinion, Public Health has never been a magnet for the best & brightest, but watch out when this overly-educated, risk-averse lot who seem to possess precious little common-sense are given some power! Halton Medical Officer’s recent Class Order is a case in point.

    • Stephen White

      Yup! Right you are Don!

      Time for some pause and reflection. First, most COVID-19 cases are in long-term care facilities and among those with serious underlying health issues and immune deficiencies. Second, the virus has been spread in these places largely by PSW’s working at multiple locations, as well as sub-standard cleaning and hygiene practices. Third, there isn’t enough testing being done to accurately determine who has/doesn’t have the virus. Fourth, I’m not seeing or hearing of a lot of overseas travel….or travel of any kind.

      The overwhelming number of Halton residents, and Canadians for that matter, are following the recommended practices and doing what they need to do. Granted, there are a few half-witted morons who aren’t, so deal with those on a need to handle basis. We don’t need draconian edicts like the one issued by Dr. Meghani, and we certainly don’t need to be treated to another litany of homilies about hand-washing and social distancing. We get it. Enough!

      Dr. Meghani and others in public health should focus their attention on the mess in LTCs which is the source of much of the virus. The fact we have to bring in 1,700 troops to help out in LTCs in Quebec and Ontario is, frankly, a bloody disgrace! As for the politicians, they should be focusing their attention on creating conditions to support and promote the opening of businesses instead of fixating on stray dogs and assorted trivia. Fact is…if this lockdown continues much longer there won’t be much of anything to open.