No fines for segregation offenders

, Marie Christine Trottier and Jean-François Gibeault

Quebec's Public Health opened an investigation in early September into revelers who allegedly frequented bars while knowing they were infected. Those irresponsible people who put the health of others at risk face fines of $ 1,000 to $ 6,000.

When we are interested in interventions with individuals who do not respect their confinement, it is clear that the guard dog does not have very long teeth. Since the start of the pandemic, regional public health directorates have requested police intervention at least 30 times, but none of these interventions resulted in the imposition of a fine.

Abitibi-Témiscamingue

No police intervention was requested by Public Health.

Outaouais

No police intervention was requested by Public Health.

Laval

Two police interventions were requested by Public Health during the first wave of the pandemic.

Montreal

The Regional Public Health Directorate (DRSP) of Montreal confirms that the intervention of the police has been requested less than 10 times , without being able to give an exact figure.

Monteregie

Police intervention was requested by Public Health and the person collaborated well.

Eastern Townships

No police intervention was requested by Public Health.

Chaudière-Appalaches

Police intervention was requested by Public Health and the person collaborated well.

Capitale-Nationale

Five police interventions were requested by Public Health. Two of them were made following the outbreak at Bar Kirouac.

Bas-Saint-Laurent

No police intervention was requested by Public Health.

Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Four police interventions were requested by Public Health. Two people did not comply with the isolation orders and they ended up in court, confirms the Regional Directorate.

North Coast

No police intervention was requested by Public Health.

Mauricie and Center-du-Quebec

Two police interventions were requested by Public Health. A third order was drafted, but ultimately did not have to be enforced by the police.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Police intervention has been requested by Public Health.

Lanaudiere

Twelve police interventions were requested by Public Health.

Laurentians

Two police interventions were requested by Public Health.

What the law provides

• When a person receives a positive test result for COVID-19, they should self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.
• If the person does not comply with these directives, the regional public health directorate can issue an order obliging the person to respect his isolation.
• The police services, mandated by Public Health, are then responsible for intervening with the person targeted by the order to demand that he respect his isolation. They can also take any reasonable means to locate the person in order to order him to remain confined and take him to a health and social services establishment if he does not cooperate.
• If the person does not comply with the issued order, the law provides that fines ranging from $ 1,000 to $ 6,000 may be imposed. In the event of a repeat offense, the fine could be doubled.