Chatham-Kent police charge man under Quarantine Act

CHATHAM-KENT — Last weekend, police received information that a local man had recently returned from the United States and was failing to comply with the mandatory 14- day self-isolation order as per the Federal Quarantine Act.

Through investigation, police learned that the man travelled to Florida and returned to Canada on July 10, 2020, via Pearson International Airport, making him bound by the Quarantine Act until July 24, 2020.

During this time, the man failed to self-isolate and potentially exposed not only his family and friends, but several members of the community. The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is investigating.

On Monday, July 27, the Chatham-Kent Police Service charged the 41-year-old Chatham man with failing to comply with an order, contrary to section 58 of the Federal Quarantine Act. He was issued a $1130 fine.

“It is certainlyunfortunate and disheartening that anyone would place themselves and, more importantly, others at risk by not following the simple direction provided to them in respectto self-quarantine,” said Chatham-Kent Police Chief Gary Conn. “In order for us to mitigate this pandemic, a collaborative approach is going to be required by all of us and I would please request that everyone does their part to ensure this occurs.”