Quarantine
Section 39 Application to have person quarantined
74.This section deals with applications to the sheriff for an order to require a person to be quarantined in the person’s home or other setting, other than a hospital. A health board may make such an application where it knows or suspects that a person in its area has an infectious disease, has been exposed to an organism which causes such a disease, is contaminated or has been exposed to a contaminant. Applications can only be made where there is a significant risk to public health and it is necessary to avoid or minimise that risk for that person to be quarantined.
75.Subsection (3) sets out that the application must specify: the person to whom the order will apply; why the board considers it necessary for the person to be quarantined; the place in which the person is to be quarantined; the steps (if any) in section 46(2) which the board considers it is necessary to take in relation to the person; the conditions (if any) which are to be applied, that an explanation has been given under section 31 (or if no explanation was given, the reason why); and any responses made to the explanation. The application must be accompanied by a certificate, signed by the health board competent person, indicating satisfaction that the criteria for the making of the application have been met.
Section 40 Quarantine orders
76.This section sets out the circumstances in which a sheriff may grant a quarantine order and what information that order must contain. The sheriff must be satisfied that the criteria for a quarantine order have been met. The order will authorise the person to be quarantined in the place specified in the order and the taking of such steps (if any) in section 46(2) which the sheriff considers appropriate. The sheriff may also impose such conditions in relation to the quarantine as is considered appropriate. Where the person is not in the place specified, a constable, an officer of the health board or local authority, or any other person authorised by the sheriff may remove the person to that place.
77.Subsection (5) lists the kinds of conditions which may be imposed by a quarantine order. These include: those who may have access to the place of quarantine and for what purposes; those who may have access to the quarantined person and for what purpose; and any conditions relating to the welfare of the quarantined person. The list is not intended to be exhaustive.
78.Subsection (6) sets out what must be specified in a quarantine order: the person to whom it applies; the place where the person is to be quarantined; the period for which the person is to be quarantined, up to a maximum of three weeks; the steps (if any) under section 46(2) which may be taken; and any conditions imposed on the person. The order must be notified to the person to whom it applies, any person to whom an explanation was given under section 31, and any other person whom the sheriff considers appropriate.
79.Health boards can apply to extend the duration of the order (section 49) and to vary the steps authorised or conditions imposed by the order (section 50).
