Section 22 Class Order for Self-Isolation Updated Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act
Written by Communications, June 23, 2021
Updated Requirements Take Effect Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
Peterborough Public Health has amended its earlier Section 22 Class Order for Self-Isolation to align with provincial guidance and to protect local residents.
“I am issuing an amended Section 22 Class Order applicable to all people living or staying within the City and County of Peterborough,” said Dr. Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “This Order is an essential tool for our COVID-19 response, and facilitates timely and thorough case and contact investigation and management, which ultimately helps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
The Class Order requires certain individuals to self-isolate to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. These individuals may be confirmed or probable cases, close contacts of cases, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The amended order takes affect Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. and includes clarification that Peterborough Public Health may require people to self-isolate to prevent COVID-19 transmission for reasons outside of those listed above. Other key amendments to the Order include:
- Requiring individuals to disclose requested information to Peterborough Public Health investigators to facilitate case and contact management, which may include the names and contact information for close contacts during an individual’s period of communicability, and
- Potential exemptions for self-isolation, applicable to individuals who are fully vaccinated. An individual is considered fully vaccinated at least 14 days after their second dose of a two dose COVID-19 vaccine series, or their first dose of a one-dose vaccine series.
“The inclusions for the disclosure of information will help to ensure that thorough investigations can be conducted,” said Julie Ingram, Manager Environmental Health. “Overall, I can say that cases and contacts are typically extremely cooperative, but there are some situations where information is withheld, which has the potential to cause higher-risk situations for transmission within the community.” Failure to comply with the Class Order may result in an individual being charged a set fine of $750.00, or up to $5,000 for each day that the offence occurs, on conviction. To date, one charge has been laid by Peterborough Public Health for and individual failing to comply with the Section 22 Class Order regarding COVID-19 and self-isolation.
A fully vaccinated individual who is a close contact of a case may potentially be exempt from self-isolation if:
- They received their second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or first dose of a single-dose vaccine series at least 14 days before exposure.
- Their vaccine history can be confirmed by Peterborough Public Health
- They are not a resident of a long-term care or retirement home, a patient admitted to a health care setting, or an individual with an immunocompromising condition.
Unfortunately, the Peterborough Public Health region has experienced deaths among residents who had started their COVID-19 vaccine series. Following public health measures will continue to be the best way to protect yourself, loved ones, and the community, particularly against the spread of the COVID-19 variants of Concern. Public health measures to continue following include:
- Get fully vaccinated, with both doses of the vaccine.
- Limit close contacts to household contacts only.
- Maintain 2-metres (or 3-metres as required for specific activities) of physical distance from people outside of your household.
- Wear a mask or face covering when physical distance of 2-metres cannot be maintained.
- Limit social gatherings to outdoor spaces and practice physical distancing.
- Practice good hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Get tested if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms.
To learn more, please read the revised Section 22 Class Order available at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca under the section “COVID-19” and subsection “Public Health Orders. To learn more about COVID-19 and vaccines in Peterborough City and County visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391