Quarantine Act, 2005
| Quarantine Act, 2005 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of Canada | |
Long title
| |
| Citation | SC 2005, c. 20. |
| Enacted by | Parliament of Canada |
| Assented to | May 13, 2005 |
| Status: In force | |
The Quarantine Act, 2005 (
2002–04 SARS outbreak, the act grants the ability to designate quarantine facilities, require health screenings upon arrival or exit of the country, and issue emergency orders that impose conditions or prohibitions on the entry of individuals or imports in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. It also imposes fines on those who disobey quarantine officers or quarantine orders.[2] The act was invoked in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
.
History
Amid the
self-isolate for 14 days, prohibiting those who are symptomatic from using public transit to reach a place of self-isolation, and prohibiting self-isolation in settings where they may come in contact with people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly.[3]
On April 10, 2020, the
RCMP disclosed it had been asked to enforce the act. Penalties for violations can include a fine of up to $750,000 and imprisonment for six months.[4]
By May 20, police officers had made 2,198 "home visits to make sure Canadians [were] complying with the self-isolation rule when they cross[ed] back into the country". One returning traveller at
Order-in-Council by saying that anyone returning home from abroad without a credible self-isolation plan would be forced to stay at a designated quarantine facility, such as a hotel." Trudeau is puzzled by "those questions on non-essential travel". CPHO Tam "called the mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals a 'cornerstone' of federal pandemic policy." Trudeau said, "Once we get to a point where non-essential travel picks up again in the coming months, I guess, we need to have strong measures in place and we're looking at those closely."[5]
See also
References
- ^ Quarantine Act, SC 2005, c. 20.
- ^ a b "The coronavirus can't be contained. Are you ready?". Maclean's. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ Dunham, Jackie (March 25, 2020). "Travellers returning home must enter mandatory self-isolation: health minister". CTV News. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "RCMP to enforce Quarantine Act, while Trudeau says no plan to invoke Emergencies Act". National Post. April 10, 2020.
- ^ "Police report 2,200 home quarantine checks as Trudeau talks about stricter border measures". CBC. May 20, 2020.