32.1-48.011 - Isolation may be ordered under certain exceptional circumstances; Commissioner authorized to require hospitalization or other health care.
§ 32.1-48.011. Isolation may be ordered under certain exceptionalcircumstances; Commissioner authorized to require hospitalization or otherhealth care.
A. Whenever the State Health Commissioner makes a determination ofexceptional circumstances pursuant to § 32.1-48.05 and that the isolationprocedures set forth in Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of this chapterare insufficient control measures to contain a communicable disease of publichealth threat, the isolation procedures herein may be invoked.
B. The State Health Commissioner may order the isolation of a person orpersons upon a finding that (i) such person or persons are infected with ormay reasonably be suspected to be infected with a communicable disease ofpublic health threat and (ii) isolation is necessary to protect the publichealth, to ensure such isolated person or persons receive appropriate medicaltreatment, and to protect health care providers and others who may come intocontact with such infected person or persons.
C. The State Health Commissioner shall record his findings and anyinformation on which he has relied in making the finding required forisolation pursuant to this section. The State Health Commissioner's record offindings concerning any communicable disease of public health threat that isinvolved in an order of isolation shall be confidential and shall not bedisclosed in accordance with subdivision 17 of § 2.2-3705.5.
D. The Commissioner may order the isolated person or persons to remain intheir places of residence, to remain in another place where they are present,or to report to a place or facility designated by the Commissioner for theduration of their isolation. An electronic device may be used to enforce anysuch isolation. The Commissioner's order of isolation shall be for a durationconsistent with the known course of such communicable disease of publichealth threat or, if the course of the disease is unknown or uncertain, for aperiod consistent with the probable course of the communicable disease ofpublic health threat.
E. To the extent that persons subject to an order of isolation pursuant tothis article require hospitalization or other health care services, the StateHealth Commissioner shall be authorized to require that such services beprovided.
F. The State Health Commissioner shall also have the authority to monitor themedical condition of any person or persons subject to an order of isolationpursuant to this article through regular visits by public health nurses orsuch other means as the Commissioner shall determine to be necessary.
(2004, cc. 773, 1021.)