Public Health (Quarantine) Regulations, S.R.O. no. 2 of 2020

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health (Quarantine) Regulations. Interpretation.

2. In these Regulations— “officers” means persons appointed by the Governor-General in the manner provided under section 3 of the Quarantine Act; “Public Health Act” means the Public Health Act, Cap. 9.21; “Quarantine Act” means the Quarantine Act, Cap. 9.23; “Quarantine Authority” means the Chief Medical Officer in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Quarantine Act. Schedule of diseases.

3. Pursuant to section 11(c)(i) of the Public Health Act, the diseases listed in Schedule 1 to these regulations are infectious, communicable or notifiable diseases dangerous to public health to which the provisions of these Regulations apply. Quarantine Authority establishment and powers.

4. (1) The Quarantine Authority established under section 3 of the Quarantine Act shall be the Quarantine Authority for the purposes of these Regulations. (2) The Quarantine Authority shall have the powers conferred on him or her under the Quarantine Act in exercise of his or her duties under these Regulations. Appointment of officers, quarantine guards or screening officers.

5. (1) Pursuant to the provisions of section 11(b) of the Public Health Act, the officers, including, any quarantine guards necessary for giving effect to the provisions of these Regulations, shall be appointed by the Governor-General, in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Quarantine Act. (2) The officers or quarantine guards referred to in sub-regulation (1), shall have such duties as are directed by the Quarantine Authority. (3) The screening officers referred to in sub-regulation (1), shall have such duties as are directed by the Quarantine Authority. Duties and powers of the police.

6. (1) The police shall have the duties and powers conferred under the Quarantine Act for the purposes of these Regulations. (2) Pursuant to section 11(ee) of the Public Health Act, the police may enter, with reasonable force if necessary, into any premises where the owner does not give permission for the inspection or examination thereof. LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS Public Health Act CAP. 9.21 67 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 Duties and powers of the Defence Force.

7. For the purposes of these Regulations, the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force shall have such duties and powers as may be specified by the Minister, with the approval of Cabinet, by Order published in the Gazette. Reporting cases.

8. (1) Pursuant to section 11(c)(ii) of the Public Health Act, a person may make a report of cases or suspected cases of infectious, communicable or notifiable diseases to the Quarantine Authority. (2) A report shall be in the Communicable Disease Notification Form set out in Schedule 2 to these regulations or by telephone call to the Quarantine Authority or the officers of the Authority. Supplies to suppress an epidemic.

9. Pursuant to section 11(c)(iii) of the Public Health Act, the emergency supply chain action plan will guide the forecasting, procurement, importing, stockpiling or issuing of relevant medical supplies necessary for preventing, mitigating, controlling or suppressing an epidemic or spread of any infectious, communicable, notifiable or other disease. Screening.

10. (1) The Quarantine Authority may authorise the establishment of screening stations at designated screening sites depending on the nature of the disease. (2) The screening process shall be in accordance with well-defined algorithms and specific actions to be taken which shall be explained to each person being screened. (3) A person shall submit to the examination, answer questions or other requirements of the screening process. Surveillance, removal, quarantine or isolation.

11. Pursuant to section 11(c)(iv) of the Public Health Act, the Minister may, in consultation with the Quarantine Authority, authorise the surveillance, removal, quarantine or isolation of any person at a place or health facility designated by the Minister and dependent on the nature of the infectious, communicable or notifiable disease. Preventing persons or conveyances.

12. Pursuant to section 11(c)(v) of the Public Health Act, the Minister depending on the nature of the disease may prevent or restrict persons or conveyances from passing from one locality to any other locality in a manner that is necessary for preventing, mitigating, controlling or suppressing an epidemic or spread of any infectious, communicable, notifiable or other disease. Detention in another island, state or country.

13. (1) Pursuant to sections 4, 11(c)(v), 11(c)(vi) and 11(c)(x) of the Public Health Act, the Minister may, with the approval of Cabinet— (a) in the national interest; (b) in the interest of public health; or LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER 68 CAP. 9.21 Public Health Act AND NEVIS Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 (c) public safety, in writing, request a person to remain outside of Saint Christopher and Nevis or outside of one either island. (2) The Minister shall specify the terms and conditions of the request and shall include— (a) the specified period; (b) the resources to be provided to assist the person during the specified period including— (i) any reasonable provisions for accommodation; (ii) any reasonable provisions for meals; (iii) any reasonable provisions for transportation; (iv) any requirements for receipts. (3) The Minister shall, if the person referred to in sub-regulation (1) makes a request in writing, notify the person’s employer in writing of the request and the employer shall not reduce or deduct the person’s salary for the specified period. Social distancing.

14. (1) Pursuant to section 11(c)(xiv) of the Public Health Act, the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, authorise— (a) the closing of schools, churches and places of public assembly or entertainment; or (b) any other social distancing interventions that may be appropriate depending on the nature of the infectious, communicable or notifiable disease for the purpose of preventing, controlling or containing the spread of disease. Offenses and penalties.

15. Pursuant to section 11(ll) of the Public Health Act, a person who contravenes the provisions of these Regulations shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding eight thousand dollars. Notice of Quarantine/Isolation.

16. (1) A person who is subject to quarantine or isolation shall be issued with a notice as set out in the form in Schedule 3 to these Regulations, which shall be signed in duplicate. (2) Where a person is identified as being subject to quarantine or isolation, he or she shall sign the notice and shall retain a copy of the notice. (3) Where the subject of the quarantine or isolation is a child or a person who is mentally disabled or otherwise incapacitated, a parent or guardian of the subject of the quarantine or isolation shall be issued with the notice and shall sign same on behalf of the child or person who is mentally disabled or otherwise incapacitated. (Inserted by S.R.O. 8/2020) LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS Public Health Act CAP. 9.21 69 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020

SCHEDULE 1 TO THE REGULATIONS (Regulation 3) INFECTIOUS, COMMUNICABLE OR NOTIFIABLE DISEASES FOR QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION The provisions of these Regulations shall apply in relation to infectious, communicable or notifiable diseases including emerging diseases such as: 1. Zika virus 2. Chikungunya virus 3. Ebola virus 4. Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19

SCHEDULE 2 TO THE REGULATIONS (Regulation 8) NOTIFIABLE DISEASES FORM Clinic Health Centre: …………………………………………………………………. Hospital: ………………………………………………………………………………. Laboratory: ……………………………………………………………………………. Private Physician: ……………………………………………………………………... Health District: ………………………………………………………………………... Last name: …………………………………………………………………………….. First name: …………………………………………………………………………….. Alias: ………………………………………………………………………………….. (circle option) Sex: M F Pregnant If less than 1 year, age in months: ……………….. If more than 1 year, age in years: ………………... Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Area (Region/Distract/Parish): ……………………………………………………….. Telephone: ……………………(Mobile)……………….(Work)……………..(Ext) LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER 70 CAP. 9.21 Public Health Act AND NEVIS Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 (Circle options) Is the patient’s occupation: Food Handling Yes No Student Yes No Agriculture/Farming Yes No Other: ………………………………………………………………………….. Name of business/school: …………………………………………………………….. Address: ………………………………………………………………………………. Area (region/District/Parish): ………………………………………………………… Date first Seen / / Date of onset: / / (check box) Contact of known case _____ Imported _____ Status: Suspected ____ Probable ____ Confirmed ____ (Circle Option) Unknown ____ Lab Done Yes No LIST OF DISEASES (circle condition) Accidental poisoning* Leptospirosis + Acquired Immunodeficiency + Leprosy + Syndrome / HIV Infection + (Hansen’s Disease) Acute Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis + Malaria + Acute Respiratory Infection < 5 + Measles + Amoebiasis / Meningitis (other) + Chicken Pox + Meningococcal Meningitis + Chlamydial infection / Mumps + Cholera * Ophthalmia neonatorum + Ciguatera poisoning Plague * Chikungunya + Poliomyelitis * (paralytic) Congenital Syphilis* Pertussis + Dengue Fever and + Rubella + Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever + Rubella Syndrome (Congenital) * Diphtheria* Rabies * Encephalitis * Smallpox * LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS Public Health Act CAP. 9.21 71 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 Foodborne disease outbreak * Salmonellosis / Fever and Rash + Scabies / Gastroenteritis < 5yrs+ Shigellosis / Gastroenteritis > 5yrs + Syphilis+ Giardiasis/ Tetanus+ Gonococcal infection + Tuberculosis + Hepatitis A+ Typhoid + Hepatitis B + Yellow Fever* Hepatitis (unspecified) / Zika + Influenza* Other (Check box) Outcome Treated and discharged Referred to higher level clinic ___ Referred to hospital ___ Died ___ Date of Death: / / (Print initial, last name and designation) Person reporting: ………………………………………………………………………. Date of reporting: / / Week#: ………………………

SCHEDULE 3 TO THE REGULATIONS (Regulation 17) NATIONAL/PORT HEALTH SURVEILLANCE NOTICE OF QUARANTINE/ISOLATION Date: Dear ____________________________ You yourself or a person _______________________ who is a child or who is mentally disabled or otherwise incapacitated, for whom you are the parent or legal guardian, are hereby required to be placed in QUARANTINE because it has been determined that you/they may have been exposed/have been exposed to the COVID- 19 Virus. This is necessary because of: LAWS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER 72 CAP. 9.21 Public Health Act AND NEVIS Revision Date: 31 Dec 2020 (a) Travel history which indicates that you have traveled to a known territory which has COVID cases OR (b) You have been exposed to someone who has the disease or exposed to someone who is/was providing care to someone with COVID-19 OR (c) You currently display symptoms consistent with the conditions of being infected with COVID-19 “Isolation” means that you are suffering from the COVID-19 virus and you must be completely separated from and must not come into contact with other persons with the exception of any medical personnel or public health officers. “Quarantine” means that you should remain in the confines of your home or other approved location for a period of at least 14 days and that you must NOT come into contact with other people during this period. During this period you are also required to comply with all instructions given by the Ministry of Health’s Public Health Officers. A Public Health Officer will be checking in on you periodically to ensure that your health remains stable and that you are complying with the requirements in this Notice. We shall further advise you when it is safe to return to your normal activities. It is critical that you DO NOT resume normal activities or interact with other persons UNTIL your status has been confirmed by an official from the Ministry of Health. A failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine and you being quarantined in a Government facility until the period of confinement is over. Please be reminded that this is for your health and the health of others. Other Specific Instructions for Your Case: ......................................................................................................................................... Dated this ….. day of …………. 2020. __________________ ____________________ Ministry of Health Person Quarantined 1 The remainder of this letter should be modified if being delivered to the parent or guardian of dependents. The parent or guardian should be given the choice to be quarantined with the dependent. If the parent or guardian does not choose to be quarantined with the dependent, then the parent/guardian is responsible for making arrangements for the dependent’s care and appropriate level of supervision. (Inserted by S.R.O. 2/2020 and amended by S.R.O. 8/2020)