(A) During a public health emergency, DHEC may isolate or quarantine an individual or groups of individuals. This includes individuals or groups who have not been vaccinated, treated, tested, or examined pursuant to Sections 44-4-510 and 44-4-520. DHEC may also establish and maintain places of isolation and quarantine, and set rules and make orders.
(B) DHEC must adhere to the following conditions and principles when isolating or quarantining individuals or groups of individuals:
(1) isolation and quarantine must be by the least restrictive means necessary to prevent the spread of a contagious or possibly contagious disease to others and may include, but are not limited to, confinement to private homes or other private and public premises;
(2) individuals isolated because of objective evidence of infection or contagious disease must be confined separately from quarantined asymptomatic individuals;
(3) the health status of isolated and quarantined individuals must be monitored regularly to determine if they require isolation or quarantine;
(4) if a quarantined individual becomes infected or is reasonably believed to be infected with a contagious or possibly contagious disease, he or she must be promptly removed to isolation;
(5) isolated and quarantined individuals must be immediately released when they pose no substantial risk of transmitting a contagious or possibly contagious disease to others;
(6) the needs of persons isolated and quarantined must be addressed in a systematic and competent fashion including, but not limited to, providing adequate food, clothing, shelter, means of communication with those in isolation or quarantine and outside these settings, medication, and competent medical care;
(7) premises used for isolation and quarantine must be maintained in a safe and hygienic manner and be designed to minimize the likelihood of further transmission of infection or other harms to persons isolated or quarantined; and
(8) to the extent possible, cultural and religious beliefs must be considered in addressing the needs of the individuals and establishing and maintaining isolation and quarantine premises.
(C) Persons subject to isolation or quarantine must comply with DHEC's rules and orders, and must not go beyond the isolation or quarantine premises. Failure to comply with these provisions constitutes a misdemeanor.
(D)
(1) DHEC may authorize physicians, health care workers, or others access to individuals in isolation or quarantine as necessary to meet the needs of isolated or quarantined individuals.
(2) No person, other than a person authorized by DHEC, shall enter isolation or quarantine premises. Failure to comply with this provision constitutes a misdemeanor.
(3) Any person entering an isolation or quarantine premises with or without authorization of DHEC may be isolated or quarantined as provided for in this act.