The State finds as follows:
- (1) Government must do more to protect the health, safety and general well-being of the general public.
- (2) New and emerging dangers, including emergent and resurgent infectious diseases and incidents of civilian mass casualties, pose serious and immediate threats.
- (3) A renewed focus on the prevention, detection, management and containment of public health emergencies is called for.
- (4) Emergency health threats, including those caused by bioterrorism and epidemics, require the exercise of extraordinary government functions.
- (5) Delaware must have the ability to respond, rapidly and effectively, to potential or actual public health emergencies.
- (6) The exercise of emergency health powers must promote the common good.
- (7) Emergency health powers must be grounded in a thorough scientific understanding of public health threats and disease transmission.
- (8) The rights of people to liberty, bodily integrity and privacy must be respected to the fullest extent possible consistent with the overriding importance of the public’s health and security.
- (9) Guided by principles of justice, it is the duty of this State to act with fairness and tolerance towards individuals and groups.
- (10) This subchapter is necessary to protect the health and safety of the citizens of this State.
73 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 13