Environmental Health Services (COVID-19) Regulations, 2022 (S.R.O. No. 13 of 2022)

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS NO. 13 OF 2022. REGULATIONS MADE by the Minister under section 30 of the Environmental Health Services Act, Chap. 42:01. (Gazetted 7th April, 2022.) 1. These Regulations may be cited as the – Short title. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (COVID-19) REGULATIONS 2022. 2. In these Regulations – Interpretation. “carrier” has the meaning assigned in the Environmental Health Services (Communicable and Notifiable Diseases) Regulations 2003; “COVID-19” means the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV); “isolate” means the removal of a person infected with or suspected to be infected with COVID-19 to a hospital, the house in which he is residing, or other suitable place and his detention at the hospital, the house in which he is residing, or other suitable place until, in the opinion of a Medical Officer, he is no longer infectious; “self-quarantine” means staying at the house in which a person is residing, away from other persons for the purpose of observing and monitoring one’s health for the development of COVID-19 symptoms;

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES “special event” means an event approved under regulation 7(1). Isolation of persons 3. (1) A Medical Officer may, infected or suspected to be infected with COVID- 19. (a) with the approval of the Chief Medical Officer, isolate or place under surveillance any case or suspected case of COVID-19 or any carrier or suspected carrier or any contact; (b) require any case or suspected case of COVID- 19 or any carrier or suspected carrier or any contact to self-quarantine. (2) A person referred to in subregulation (1) – (a) shall answer all questions put to him by a Medical Officer which would allow the Medical Officer to assess what measures would be necessary to prevent, limit or suppress the spread of COVID- 19; (b) shall provide a Medical Officer with information which would allow the Medical Officer to assess what measures would be necessary to prevent, limit or suppress the spread of COVID-19; (c) may be subjected to a clinical examination by a Medical Officer. (3) In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – (a) a Medical Officer shall require any case or suspected case of COVID-19 who is isolated at the house in which he resides to wear a wristband; and

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES (b) an authorised Medical Officer shall remove the wristband referred to in paragraph (a) when the person is no longer infectious. (4) Where a person absconds from isolation imposed under this regulation, a police officer may take the person into custody and return the person to the place of isolation. (5) A police officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of a power under this regulation. (6) A person who – (a) fails to comply with a requirement to be placed in isolation, under surveillance or self-quarantine; (b) absconds, or attempts to abscond from isolation imposed under this regulation; (c) does not comply with any requirement under this regulation, commits an offence. 4. (1) A person arriving in Dominica from a place outside of Persons arriving from outside of Dominica. Dominica – (a) shall answer all questions put to him by a Medical Officer which would allow the Medical Officer to assess what measures would be necessary to prevent, limit or suppress the spread of COVID- 19; (b) shall provide a Medical Officer with information which would allow the Medical Officer to assess what measures would be necessary to prevent,

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES limit or suppress the spread of COVID-19; (c) may be subjected to a clinical examination by a Medical Officer; (d) who is considered to be high risk of being infected with COVID-19 may be isolated; (e) may be required to present himself for surveillance at a place and time as may be appointed by the Medical Officer and while undergoing surveillance may be removed to a hospital or other suitable place approved by the Chief Medical Officer; and (f) who is not isolated under paragraph (d), shall self- quarantine for 14 days or other period specified in writing by the Chief Medical Officer, commencing on the date of arrival in Dominica, whether or not the person has symptoms of COVID-19. (2) A person who – (a) fails to comply with a requirement to be placed in isolation, under surveillance or self-quarantine; (b) absconds, or attempts to abscond from isolation imposed under this regulation; (c) does not comply with any requirement under this regulation, commits an offence.

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES 5. A person in Dominica who develops flu-like symptoms or Requirement to notify who may have had contact with someone who – (a) has travelled to a country affected by COVID- 19; or (b) is infected with COVID-19, is required to immediately inform the Ministry with responsibility for health. 6. (1) In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a Mandatory mask requirement. person shall wear a mask or suitable covering over his nose and mouth while he is – (a) using a motor omnibus, hiring car or taxi or any other public transportation; (b) in a public building, including supermarkets, retail and wholesale commercial establishments; (c) at a market or other similar business or place; (d) in a public place; (e) in a shared office space. (2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1), a person shall comply with a request to temporarily remove or adjust his mask or suitable covering over his nose and mouth to confirm his identification if the request is made by – (a) a police officer; or (b) the owner of the premises that the person has entered or is seeking to enter.

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES (3) A person who contravenes subregulation (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred dollars. (4) A person who contravenes subregulation (2) commits an offence. (5) In this regulation “public building” has the meaning assigned in the Environmental Health Services (Communicable and Notifiable Diseases) Regulations 2003. Gatherings. 7. (1) A person shall not host a gathering of more than three hundred persons unless the person has the written permission of the Events Task Force approved by the Cabinet. (2) Where a gathering is permitted under subregulation (1), the host, patrons and other participants shall adhere to the Special Events Protocols established and published by the Ministry of Health. (3) A person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence. Business or 8. (1) All businesses or establishments shall open in establishments to be open. accordance with the protocols established by the Chief Medical Officer. (2) A business or establishment shall require a person accessing the business or establishment to wear a mask or suitable covering over his nose and mouth. (3) Every business or establishment must – (a) ensure that all cashiers are provided with a face mask; (b) exercise proper hygienic practices.

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH S.R.O. 13 SERVICES (4) A business or establishment who contravenes this regulation commits an offence. 9. A person who provides false or misleading information Providing false or misleading information. intentionally or recklessly to any person carrying out a function under these Regulations commits an offence. 10. A person who obstructs, without reasonable excuse, any Obstruction of duty. person carrying out a function under these Regulations commits an offence. 11. The Environmental Health Services (COVID-19) Revocation. SRO 26 of 2021. Regulations, 2021 is revoked. Made this 4th day of April, 2022. IRVING MCINTYRE Minister for Health DOMINICA Printed by the Government Printer at the Government Printery, Roseau (Price $1.40 cents )