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OCHD Has No Authority to Enforce Residents to Follow Social Distancing Orders
What started as a trickle has quickly turned into a steady stream of calls and emails into the Ocean County Health Department asking which agency is enforcing the social distancing requirements.
Many calls reference food establishments still offering sit in dining, large group gatherings, weddings etc.,” explains Daniel Regenye, Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) Public Health Coordinator/Health Officer. “Residents should know that social distancing is a very effective intervention to prevent the further spread and transmission of COVID-19 and is the message conveyed by Public Health agencies at the local, county, state and federal level.”
Residents should know that while the Ocean County Health Department provides this guidance and recommendation to further supplement the Governors Executive Orders, the Ocean County Health Department is NOT the enforcement agency and has no regulatory authority for this matter. This respective regulatory authority resides with each respective police department. Local police are beginning and will continue to enforce the governor’s mandate on social distancing.
Regenye added, “The Ocean County Health Department further advises residents that they should channel all those calls and concerns regarding noncompliance to their local police department which would be the proper enforcement agency on such matters related to the Governors Executive Orders and recommendations of Public Health related to Social Distancing.”
For more information regarding this topic or social distancing measures, please visit www.ochd.org or call 732-341-9700 ext. 7411.
Call the NJDOH hotline available for questions at 1-800-222-1222 or dial 2-1-1.
