Second man in week charged with breaking Quarantine Act

OTTAWA – An unnamed man has been charged under the Quarantine Act after failing to self-isolate after returning from abroad.

On Jan. 19, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) received a public complaint concerning a man that was disobeying the Quarantine Act.

“Information was received indicating that a Canadian resident had travelled to Rwanda,” the OPS released in a statement today (Jan. 20). “He returned to Canada on Jan. 12 and was required, under the act, to quarantine until Jan. 26 in a quarantine designated facility located in the 200 block of King Edward Avenue.”

When patrol officers visited the man to investigate the complaint, he was found to be in the presence of two other persons.   

The 24-year-old man, of Ottawa was charged with:

Failing to comply with entry condition (Self isolate for 14 days) under section 58 of the Quarantine Act specifically not having visitors and limiting contact with others in your place of quarantine/isolation.

The visitors were issued a verbal warning.

Police did not release the names of the individuals involved. The individual is the second Ottawa-area individual to be charged in violation of the Quarantine Act in the last five days. A long term care employee was also charged last October.

“The Ottawa police would like to remind the population the utmost importance of respecting the Quarantine Act in order to protect public health and prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases,” the OPS said. “Any breach of the Quarantine Act should be reported to the Ottawa Police.”

Non-compliance of the City of Ottawa Mandatory Mask Bylaw or Provincial Public Health measures and restriction such as gathering limits should be reported to the City of Ottawa Bylaw Services (311). Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, or crimestoppers.ca.