Canadian arrested for refusing public health order to self-isolate

By Eul Basa on March 20th, 2020

A Canadian has been arrested for not complying with a public health order to self-isolate despite testing positive for the coronavirus, CBC reports.

The woman, who is from Quebec City, was taken in by local police for being out and about in the city's Limoilou neighborhood. Due to her status as a carrier of the virus, the regional public health authorities had ordered her to stay at home. Instead, she decided to go out for a stroll at around 2 p.m. on Friday.

The Quebec City police were then asked to intervene, and the woman was immediately sent to a hospital where she was further examined. Currently, it is unclear whether or not she will face any charges.

Sandra Dion, a spokesperson for the Quebec City police, told CBC: "This is the first time that we have executed this type of warrant," said police spokesperson Sandra Dion.

Under Quebec's Public Health Act, law enforcement is given special permission to act on individuals who may be putting other people's health and lives at risk, especially during a public health crisis. In this particular case, since the province had previously declared a 10-day state of emergency, the Quebec City police were able to make the arrest.

The important takeaway that every Canadian can take from this situation is that being asymptomatic does not mean you are exempt from social isolation practices. If you test positive for the coronavirus, you must stay home until the virus passes your system in order to avoid spreading the virus to other people.

Perhaps other provincial governments should follow in Quebec's footsteps and implement stricter enforcement of social distancing and self-isolation measures, for the sake of everyone's safety. At this grave time of uncertainty and despair, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons