A 72-year-old Sarnia man has been charged for failing to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from out-of-country.
The ticket carries a fine of $750 plus a $130 victim surcharge for a total of $880.
After receiving complaints about the man, Sarnia police said bylaw officers went to his home on March 31 and warned him that he must comply or face being charged under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
On April 6, someone reported to the city's COVID-19 hotline that the man was still breaking quarantine by leaving his home.
Later that day, members of the COPPS Unit went to the man's home, but he wasn't there. They waited for him to return, and issued him a ticket for failing to comply with an order made during a declared emergency.
Sarnia police Chief Norm Hansen told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Tuesday morning that they continue to try to educate the public but will lay charges against those who refuse to comply.
He said not having some of our normal liberties for a month or two is certainly worth saving a life.
"We live in a country where we're used to having everything at our fingertips, where we're spoiled, and I'm glad to be spoiled because I think Canada is probably the best country to live in," said Hansen. "But these are desperate times. We're not asking you not to play on playground equipment because we don't like children, we're asking you do that because we don't want to spread this disease. This virus has taken over, and if we don't do something about it, it's going to get much, much worse."
Chief Hansen said the public has been using the local information hotline.
"We're not getting a ton of calls directly to us which is good because that's what we want the hotline for, we want to have bylaw help us out with that. But we are getting calls and it's taking up police time. I haven't done an analysis of the time yet, we're kind of keeping track of costs as far as what it has cost our budget. The time allotment right now hasn't been as bad but it's definitely getting higher and I think it's going to get higher with the nicer weather."
Hansen said he hopes people continue to social distance themselves over the upcoming Easter weekend and avoid large family gatherings.
The COVID-19 Hotline can be reached at 1-877-4-SARNIA (1-877-472-7642). Members of the public can report their concerns, from within Sarnia, by email to covid@sarnia.ca
-With files from Sue Storr