Chapter 3 – Duties and Powers Relating to the Presence of Disease
Regulations Governing the Reporting of Diseases, Exposures, and Sentinel Health Events
3.1 Duty of persons to cooperate with health authority during investigations: The person identified as having a known or suspected disease, exposure, or sentinel health event, or any other person shall, upon request by a health authority, promptly cooperate during:
3.1.1 An investigation of the circumstances or cause of a known or suspected case, exposure, sentinel health event, or outbreak, providing, upon request of the health authority:
3.1.1.a The names, addresses, and phone numbers of patrons, guests, employees, or contacts; and
3.1.1.b The work schedules and sick logs of employees; and
3.1.1.c Any illness complaints made by patrons, guests, or employees; and
3.1.1.d Access to employees, patrons, guests, or any other persons for the purposes of interviewing and obtaining clinical specimens, or for any other reason related to the investigation; and
3.1.1.e Any other information or access related to the investigation requested by the health authority.
3.1.2 The carrying out of measures for the prevention, suppression, and control of disease.
3.1.3 The carrying out of measures for the prevention of future exposures or sentinel health events.
3.2 Duties of the Chief Health Officer to investigate, report, prevent, suppress, and control particular diseases: If the Chief Health Officer knows, suspects, or is informed of the existence within his jurisdiction of a known or suspected case, exposure, sentinel health event, or outbreak, subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Chief Health Officer shall, at his or her discretion:
3.2.1 Use the guidelines set forth in these Regulations to investigate, report, prevent, suppress, and control the disease, exposure, sentinel health event, or outbreak; and
3.2.2 Carry out the measures for the investigation, reporting, prevention, suppression, and control the disease, exposure, sentinel health event, or outbreak.
3.2.3 The Chief Health Officer may also require the director or other person in charge of a medical laboratory to submit microbiologic cultures, subcultures, other specimens, or clinical material, if available, to a laboratory designated by the Chief Health Officer for diagnosis, confirmation, or further testing, if:
3.2.3.a The disease is of public health concern, as determined by the Chief Health Officer; and
3.2.3.b Written notification has been provided by the Chief Health Officer to directors or other persons in charge of medical laboratories specifying:
3.2.3.b.i The procedure to be followed by the laboratory; and
3.2.3.b.ii The justification for requiring that microbiologic cultures, subcultures, other specimens, or clinical material be submitted.
3.3 Authorization of the Health Authority to disclose information of personal nature to certain persons: Information of a personal nature provided by a person making a report of a known or suspected case, exposure, sentinel health event, or outbreak, or determined by investigation of the health authority, may be disclosed by the health authority to:
3.3.1 The parent or legal guardian of the person identified as having a known or suspected disease, exposure, or sentinel health event, if determined by the health authority to be necessary for the protection of the parent or legal guardian, or for the well-being of the person identified as having a known or suspected disease, exposure, or sentinel health event; or
3.3.2 The health care provider of the known or suspect case or exposed person if determined by the health authority to be necessary for the protection of the health care provider or for the well-being of the person identified as having a known or suspected disease, exposure, or sentinel health event; or
3.3.3 Any other person determined by the health authority to be necessary for the protection of the well-being of the person identified as having a known or suspected disease, exposure, or sentinel health event; or
3.3.4 Any other person determined by the health authority through an investigation to be at risk for acquiring the disease, being exposed, or having a sentinel health event.
3.3.5 The health authority making a disclosure shall disclose only that information of a personal nature which is necessary for the protection of the person to whom it is disclosed.
3.4 Authorization of the Chief Health Officer to require the reporting of disease on a temporary basis: The Chief Health Officer may require the reporting of a known or suspect case, exposure, or sentinel health event not specified in these Regulations if:
3.4.1 The disease, exposure, or sentinel health event is a public health concern, as determined by the Chief Health Officer; and
3.4.2 Investigation of known or suspect cases, exposures, or sentinel health events may contribute to understanding, controlling, or preventing disease; and
3.4.3 Written notification is provided to health care providers specifying:
3.4.3.a The additional reporting requirements concerning the disease or exposure; and
3.4.3.b The justification for the additional reporting requirements.
3.4.4 The requirement of reporting an additional disease, exposure, or sentinel health event not specified in these Regulations, authorized by the Chief Health Officer, is effective for no longer than 36 months from the date of written notification to health care providers of the reporting requirement.
Updated on: September 19, 2018