KING COUNTY, Wash. — King County’s leading health official issued a new order Saturday that threatens involuntary detention for those who refuse to isolate after testing positive for the coronavirus.
The order, signed by Dr. Jeff Duchin, the health officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County, requires people with positive tests “to follow isolations protocols at home or a recovery facility” and anyone with a pending test to self quarantine.
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“Many steps we are taking as a community are helping to decrease the number of people who get sick, need hospital care and who die. However, we cannot stop the outbreak completely and our community will likely remain at risk for months to come,” Duchin said.
Those who do not voluntarily isolate may be subject to enforcement actions, “which could include legal actions for involuntary detention,” the letter said.
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