VIOLATION OF A COVID-19 MANDATORY QUARANTINE ORDER IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY HEALTH RISK

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County officials want to remind citizens that a violation of the Florida Department of Health’s mandatory quarantine order is a serious public safety health risk, which can lead to jailtime and/or fines.

COVID-19 is a communicable disease that poses a severe threat to public health. If COVID-19 is contracted, two effective ways to prevent exposure or further contamination is to isolate or quarantine, ensuring the health and safety of the public.

Quarantines are used to keep someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. People in quarantine are required to stay home, separate themselves from others within the home, monitor their health, and follow directions from their local health department. A COVID-19 quarantine is legally binding to ensure the individual is staying home or isolating in a specific area, such as their home or a hotel room. The violation is punishable by fines and/or jailtime if broken.

If someone is in a mandatory quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 and not following the quarantine order, the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County can be contacted at 305-293-7500. If warranted, the Florida Department of Health will contact local authorities to proceed with a violation and enforce the order.

Isolation is different than a mandatory quarantine and is used to separate people infected with the virus from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it is safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom. Isolation is a normal term used by the Department of Health when speaking with possible cases and close contacts to cases. If someone is not self-isolating, then a mandatory quarantine order can be imposed.

Violations of Monroe County’s mandatory facial covering ordinance, any social distancing concerns, and business capacity issues should be reported to code compliance at the appropriate jurisdiction within the county. Contact information can be found at monroecountyem.com/covid19.

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