John Haggie, the health minister of Newfoundland and Labrador said he is thinking of taking action against those who decide to ignore recommendations for coronavirus safety provided by the chief medical officer of health.
The recommendations include things such as self-isolation after returning from a foreign country according to CBC News.
“The challenge we've got is on those situations where people will not exercise social responsibility and voluntarily do what is asked,” Haggie told CBC on Wednesday.
“I think that is certainly top of mind for us today.”
Health officials have the authority to limit rights and freedoms during a time of crisis through the Public Health and Promotion Act which passed in 2018.
There are currently three presumptive cases of the virus in Newfoundland and Labrador around the Labrador-Grenfell Health region.
The chief medical officer also has the authority to “apprehend, detain, isolate or quarantine” someone for as much as 60 days through court orders.
Haggie said that he is becoming concerned after hearing multiple complaints about people who are ignore recommendations.
“I have been made aware of instances where people have apparently come back from vacations abroad and gone straight into work regardless of our recommendations,” Haggie said.
“Similarly, some bars were open over the course of the [St.] Patrick's Day event despite having been asked to comply with our recommendations.”
He added that a decision on implementing orders under the act will be made Wednesday.
“This [comes] down to people looking after each other and just as we did with the snowstorm events where you go and you help your neighbour, the best help you can be for your neighbour is to follow our recommendations and not have to be forced to do it.”
On Tuesday, during a news conference, Haggie and Fitzgerald noted that they were talking about a possible state of emergency, though it was not being seriously considered as of yet. States of emergency were declared in Ontario and Alberta on Tuesday.
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