On March 1, 2022, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra rescinded a Section 22 Class Order regarding self-isolation, which was issued on April 16, 2021. Please find answers to some questions about this decision below.
Q. Does the rescinding of the order mean I no longer have to isolate if I have symptoms of COVID-19?
A. No.
The government of Ontario’s requirements for self-isolation remain in place. Individuals must isolate if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for the virus.
The required isolation period is at least five days for those who have been fully vaccinated or are under 12 years of age or at least 10 days if the person is not fully vaccinated and over 12 years of age or is immunocompromised.
Individuals must also isolate if they live with someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19 and the individual has not tested positive for the virus in the past 90 days. Full details on self-isolation requirements and time periods are available at this link.
Q. What is a Class Order and which Class Order was rescinded by Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra?
A. Under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, a Medical Officer of Health can issue an order to limit the spread of a communicable disease in the community. The Order can be made when an MOH is of the opinion, upon reasonable and probable grounds, that: a communicable disease exists or may exist or that there is an immediate risk of an outbreak of a communicable disease in the health unit served by the medical officer of health; the communicable disease presents a risk to the health of persons in the health unit served by the medical officer of health; and the requirements specified in the order are necessary in order to decrease or eliminate the risk to health presented by the communicable disease.
The MOH can issue an order to an individual or to a class or persons, the latter referred to as a Class Order.
On March 1, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra rescinded a Section 22 Class Order regarding self-isolation, which was issued on April 16, 2021. The Class Order mandated any Grey-Bruce residents who were diagnosed with COVID-19, had symptoms of the virus, had reasonable grounds to believe they had symptoms of COVID-19, were a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 or were directed to self-isolate by public health to return to their place of residence and isolate for the periods of time set out in the order. Failure to comply with the order was an offence and those who failed to comply could have been liable, on conviction, to a fine of not more than $5,000 for every day or part of each day on which the offence occurred or continued.
Q. Why was the Class Order rescinded?
A. The Class Order related ONLY to Grey-Bruce residents and visitors. It was rescinded on March 1, 2022, as it had served its purpose. As we transitioned our case and contact management to focus on the high-risk sectors, there has not been the need for the Class Order; almost all cases who work in these sectors and their families have been compliant.
The Medical Officer of Health can still issue an isolation order on individuals, as required.
Q. Where can I find details on the current self-isolation and self-monitoring requirements?
A. Full details are available here: What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 | COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario and I think I have COVID-19 What do I do?
Section 22 MOH Order Reducing COVID-19 Risk in Commercial Establishment Sept 10 2020
Section 22 MOH Order Reducing COVID-19 Risk in Commercial Establishment Aug 13 2020
Section 22 MOH Order Reducing COVID-19 Risk in Commercial Establishment July 14 2020
Section 22 MOH Order Beach Closure in Grey Bruce due to COVID-19 May 14 2020
Section 22 MOH Order Self Isolation April 16 2021
Share this page