§ 16-4-21 — Quarantine

In establishing quarantine for a venereal disease under the provisions of this article, the health officer establishing said quarantine may confine any person infected, or reasonably suspected of having such venereal disease, or any other person liable to spread such disease, to the house or premises in which such infected person lives, or he may require any such person to be quarantined in any other place, hospital or institution in his jurisdiction that may have been provided. If no such place has been provided, then such person shall be confined in the county or city jail under a quarantine order, and such jails shall always be available for such purposes. But if such person is to be quarantined in his home, then said health officer shall designate the area, room or rooms, that such person is to occupy while so confined, and no one except the attending physician or his immediate attendants shall enter or leave such room or rooms so designated without permission of said health officer, and no one except the local health officer shall terminate said quarantine, and this shall not be done until the diseased person has become noninfectious as determined by thorough clinical tests, or permission has been given by the West Virginia state director of health. If, to make any quarantine effective as provided herein, it becomes necessary, the local health officer may summon a sufficient guard for the enforcement of his orders in the premises. And every person who fails or refuses to obey or comply with any order made by said health officer hereunder, or under any other section concerning quarantine, and every person summoned as a guard who shall, without a lawful excuse therefor, fail or refuse to obey the orders and directions of the health officer in enforcement of said quarantine, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, shall be punished as hereinafter provided.

Legislative History

2024 Reg. Sess., HB4978; 1977 Reg. Sess., SB585