PART 8
OBSERVATION AND SURVEILLANCE
36. Places for observation and isolation of persons
When any place is in use for observation or isolation purposes, a person shall not enter or leave the place and no article shall be taken to or removed from the place except with the general or special permission of the Quarantine Authority or the health officer or otherwise than on such conditions as the Quarantine Authority or the health officer may generally or specially impose.
37. Power of health officer to order isolation or observation or surveillance
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(1) Without prejudice to any other powers conferred by these Regulations, any person, within 14 days after his or her arrival in Saint Lucia, who, in the opinion of the health officer—
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(a) suffers from or suspected to be suffering from a specified infectious disease, shall be placed in isolation;
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(b) suffers from an infectious disease, other than a specified infectious disease, is liable to be placed in isolation at the discretion of the health officer;
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(c) is exposed to the risk of infection by any specified infectious disease, may, at the discretion of the health officer, be placed under observation or surveillance during the remainder of the period of incubation; or
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(d) is exposed to risk of infection by any infectious disease other than a specified infectious disease, may, at the discretion of the health officer, be placed under surveillance as provided in regulation 14.
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(2) When any person arriving in Saint Lucia has, in the opinion of the health officer, been exposed to infection from yellow fever within the previous 6 days, then, unless the health officer otherwise directs or such person is immune from the disease, the health officer shall order him to be kept under observation under aedes-free conditions for 6 days or the remainder of the 6 days, from the last day on which he or she was exposed to the infection. An inoculated person who is not yet regarded as immune shall be kept under observation for a period not exceeding 6 days from the last day of possible exposure to infection.
38. Duties of persons under observation or surveillance
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(1) A person placed under observation or surveillance shall—
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(a) furnish all such information as may reasonably be required to the health officer or other authorised officer and shall comply with the orders and instructions of such health officer or authorised officer;
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(b) undergo such medical inspections and examinations (including bacteriological examinations) as the health officer may require and submit himself or herself and his or her personal effects or other articles to disinfection and other measures as the health officer may order.
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(2) A person placed under surveillance, who is so required by the health officer, shall deposit in the hands of the health officer a sum fixed by such Officer (not exceeding $9.60) for which a receipt shall be given by the health officer. Such deposit shall be declared forfeited (without prejudice to any other liability) by the Quarantine Authority if the person under surveillance neglects to comply with the conditions of surveillance during the period thereof. At the end of such period the deposit, if not forfeited, shall be refunded by the health officer on delivery of the receipt given by him or her.
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A sum forfeited under this subregulation shall be paid into the Treasury for the use of Saint Lucia.
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(3) A person in charge of a child or other person under disability shall be responsible for the compliance of such child or person with the requirements and provisions of this regulation.
39. Isolation of persons under observation or surveillance
A person under observation or surveillance who shows symptoms of an infectious disease may, if the health officer so orders, be placed in isolation.
40. Surveillance replaced by observation
In cases where surveillance is imposed under these Regulations it may be replaced by observation in any of the following circumstances—
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(a) when it is impossible to exercise surveillance with adequate efficiency;
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(b) if the risk of the introduction of infection into Saint Lucia is considered exceptionally serious;
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(c) if the health officer is satisfied that the person who has been or should be subjected to surveillance has not complied or is not likely to comply with the conditions of surveillance.
41. Failure of person under surveillance to report for medical inspection
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(1) Any person under surveillance who, on account of illness, is unable to report for medical inspection shall immediately cause the health officer responsible for his or her surveillance to be informed of his or her illness and its nature and the health officer shall take steps to determine whether or not such person is suffering from an infectious disease.
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(2) When any person under surveillance fails to report for medical inspection on the appointed day, the health officer responsible for his or her surveillance shall cause a search to be made for him, and if his or her failure to report for medical inspection is due to illness, the health officer shall immediately visit him or her.
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(3) Any person under surveillance who intends to proceed to an address other than that originally given by him or her shall immediately notify the health officer responsible for his or her surveillance of the new address.
42. Change of place during surveillance
The health officer responsible for the surveillance of a person who is about to proceed to some other place before the period of surveillance has ended shall inform the health authorities of the place to which such person is proceeding of his or her impending arrival and address there, and of the period of surveillance still uncompleted, and shall also instruct the person under surveillance as to whom he or she shall report for medical inspection when he or she arrives at such other place.
43. Release from observation
As soon as any person placed under observation has undergone the observation necessary in his or her case, he or she shall be released from observation by the health officer.
44. Offences
A person other than a person acting in the execution of these Regulations who contravenes or fails to comply with regulation 36, or any condition imposed under, or with any of the provisions of regulations 38 and 41, commits an offence.
45. Persons improperly leaving places approved for observation or isolation
A person who, contrary to these Regulations, leaves any place in use for observation or isolation purposes may, without prejudice to any other liability, be apprehended by a health officer or an authorised officer or a police officer constituted by law in Saint Lucia and taken back to such place.