2023 Delaware Code › Title 16 - Health and Safety › Chapter 7. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES › Subchapter I. Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control › § 704. Procedure for apprehension, commitment, treatment and quarantine of an infected person.

§ 704. Procedure for apprehension, commitment, treatment and quarantine of an infected person.
(a) Orders directed to persons with an STD of a communicable nature or restrictive measures on individuals with a communicable STD, as described in this section and in § 705 of this title shall be used when other measures to protect the public health have failed, including reasonable efforts, which shall be documented, to obtain the voluntary cooperation of the individual who may be subject to such an order.
(b) When the Director knows or has reason to believe, because of medical or epidemiological information, that a person has an STD of a communicable nature and is a danger to the public health, the Director may issue an order to:
(1) Require the person to be examined and tested to determine whether the person has an STD of a communicable nature;
(2) Require the person with an STD of a communicable nature to report to a qualified health care professional for counseling on the disease and for information on how to avoid infecting others;
(3) Direct a person with an STD of a communicable nature to cease and desist from specified conduct which endangers the health of others when the Director has determined that reliable information exists to believe that such person has been ordered to report for counseling as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section and continues to demonstrate behavior which endangers the health of others.
(c) If a person violates a cease and desist order issued pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this section and it is shown that the person is a danger to others, the Director may enforce the cease and desist order by imposing such restrictions upon the person as are necessary to prevent the specific conduct which endangers the health of others. Any restriction shall be in writing, setting forth the name of the person to be restricted and the initial period of time, not to exceed 3 months, during which the order shall remain effective, the terms of the restrictions and such other conditions as may be necessary to protect the public health. The Director shall review appeals for reconsideration from the subject of the order issued pursuant to this subsection.
(d) (1) Any order by the Director pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall indicate to the subject of the order the grounds and provisions of the order and notify such person that if the person refuses to comply with the order the person has a right to be present at a judicial hearing in the Justice of the Peace Court to review the order and that the person may have an attorney appear on the person's behalf in said hearing. Notice of any order by the Director shall either be by personal service or by prepaid certified mail, return receipt requested, at the subject's last known address.
(2) If the subject of the order refuses to comply with the order the Director may petition the Justice of the Peace Court for an order of compliance with such order. If an order of compliance is requested, the Court shall hear the matter within 10 days after the request. Notice of the place, date and time of the court hearing shall be made by personal service or, if the person is not available, shall be mailed to the subject of the order by prepaid certified mail, return receipt requested, at the person's last known address. The burden of proof shall be on the Director to show by clear and convincing evidence that the specified grounds exist for the issuance of the order and for the need for compliance and that the terms and conditions imposed are necessary to protect the public health. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the Court shall issue appropriate orders affirming, modifying or dismissing the order.
(3) If the Director does not petition the Justice of the Peace Court for an order of compliance within 30 days after the subject of the order refuses to comply, the Director's order shall expire automatically and upon application to the Director by the subject of the order, the fact that the order was issued shall be expunged from the records of the Division of Public Health.
(e) Any hearing conducted pursuant to this section shall be closed and confidential, and any transcripts or records relating thereto shall also be confidential.
Code 1915, §  740A;  30 Del. Laws, c. 53, §§  1-6;  Code 1935, §  778;  45 Del. Laws, c. 86, §  1;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  704;  66 Del. Laws, c. 334, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 277, §  1;