ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE POLICY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES

The Oakwood Board of Health acknowledges that in the event that a person or community must be quarantined to prevent further spread of a highly-infectious disease or to contain any other public health emergency, specific protective measures would need to be implemented to restrict an individual’s or community’s movement. The Board is given the authority by the Ohio Department of Health, under Chapter 3707 of the Ohio Revised Code, to institute quarantine.

It is recognized that in certain circumstances, the Oakwood Board of Health may not be able to convene to discuss the situation and issue appropriate quarantine orders. To that end, Section 3707.34 of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes the Board to adopt a policy transferring emergency quarantine authority to the Health Commissioner, to act on the Board’s behalf until such time in the future that the Board can meet.

It is therefore the stated policy of the Oakwood Board of Health that the Health Commissioner shall have full emergency quarantine authority, including the power to administer Section 3707.04 to 3707.34 of the Ohio Revised Code and the power to act on the Board’s behalf until such time in the future that the Board can meet, in the following circumstances:

1. 1. An outbreak of infectious disease;
2. 2. The appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin;
3. 3. A natural disaster, a chemical attack or accidental release, or a nuclear attack or accident;
4. 4. Bioterrorism, as defined in Section 3701.232 of the Ohio Revised Code; and
5. 5. Any other public health emergency reasonably requiring quarantine or isolation;

To be fully compliant with Section 3707.34(B) of the Ohio Revised Code and to ensure recognition of the Health Commissioner’s authority by that body, the Board requests approval of this policy by Oakwood City Council in the form of a resolution to be included as part of this policy thereafter.

David Denka, D.O., Chair
Oakwood Board of Health