[Adopted 12-2-2014 by Ord. No. BH:2014-02]
The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the
Board as defined herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BOARD
Manalapan Township Board of Health.
DEPARTMENT
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
ISOLATION
The physical separation and confinement of an individual
or groups of individuals who are infected or reasonably believed to
be infected, based on signs, symptoms or laboratory analysis, with
a contagious or possibly contagious disease from nonisolated individuals,
to prevent or limit the transmission of the disease to nonisolated
individuals.
QUARANTINABLE DISEASE
Any communicable disease which presents a risk of serious
harm to public health and which may require isolation or quarantine
to prevent its spread. The Department's lists of reportable communicable
diseases are set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:57-1.5.
QUARANTINE
The physical separation and confinement of an individual
or groups of individuals, who are or may have been exposed to a communicable
or possibly communicable disease and who do not show signs or symptoms
of a communicable disease, from unexposed individuals, to prevent
or limit the transmission of the disease to unexposed individuals.
The Board shall adhere to all of the following conditions and
principles when isolating or quarantining individuals or a group of
individuals:
A. The isolation or quarantine shall be by the least restrictive means
necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable or possibly communicable
disease to others and may include, but is not limited to, confinement
to private homes, other private premises, or public premises.
B. Isolated individuals shall be confined separately from quarantined
individuals.
C. The health status of isolated or quarantined individuals shall be
monitored regularly to determine if the individuals require further
or continued isolation or quarantine.
D. If a quarantined individual subsequently becomes infected or is reasonably
believed to have become infected with a communicable or possibly communicable
disease, the individual shall be promptly removed to isolation.
E. Isolated or quarantined individuals shall be immediately released
when the Board determines that the individuals pose no substantial
risk of transmitting a communicable or possibly communicable disease.
F. The Board shall address the needs of isolated or quarantined individuals
in a systemic and competent fashion, including, but not limited to,
providing adequate food, clothing, shelter, means of communicating
with those in and outside of isolation or quarantine, medication,
and competent medical care.
G. The premises used for isolation or quarantine shall be maintained
in a safe and hygienic manner and shall be designed to minimize the
likelihood of further transmission of infection or other harm to isolated
or quarantined individuals.
H. To the extent possible, the Board shall consider cultural and religious
beliefs in addressing the needs of individuals in isolation and quarantine.
Any individual or group of individuals subject to isolation
or quarantine shall have the following rights:
A. The right to be represented by legal counsel;
B. The right to be provided with prior notice of the date, time, and
location of any hearing;
C. The right to participate in any hearing, which could be by telephonic
or electronic means;
D. The right to respond and present evidence and argument on the individual's
own behalf in any hearing;
E. The right to cross-examine witnesses who testify against the individual;
and
F. The right to view and copy all records in the possession of the Board
which relate to the subject of the written order.
In any proceeding brought pursuant to this chapter, to promote
the fair and efficient operation of justice and having given due regard
to the rights of the affected individuals, the protection of the public's
health, and the availability of necessary witnesses and evidence,
the Board or court with jurisdiction may order the consolidation of
individual claims into group claims, if all of the following conditions
exist:
A. The number of individuals involved or to be affected is large enough
that consolidation would be best use of resources;
B. There are questions of law or fact common to the individual claims
or rights to be determined;
C. The group claims or rights to be determined are typical of the affected
individuals' claims or rights; and
D. The entire group will be adequately represented in the consolidation.