Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 641 - Public Health Department
Chapter 1 - Reportable Diseases, Poisonings and Conditions, and Quarantine and Isolation
Rule 641-1.6 - Isolation and Quarantine

a. Voluntary confinement. Prior to instituting mandatory isolation or quarantine pursuant to this rule, the department or a local board of health may request that an individual or group of individuals voluntarily confine themselves to a private home or other facility.

b. Quarantine and isolation. The department and local boards of health are authorized to impose and enforce quarantine and isolation restrictions. Quarantine and isolation shall rarely be imposed by the department or by local boards of health. If a quarantinable disease occurs in Iowa, individuals with a suspected or active quarantinable disease and contacts to the case may be quarantined or isolated as the particular situation requires. Any quarantine or isolation imposed by the department or a local board of health shall be established and enforced in accordance with this rule.

a. A written administrative order to isolate or quarantine an individual or group of individuals shall be issued when voluntary measures are deemed impracticable or ineffective. Orders shall become effective immediately upon issuance.

b. Orders for isolation and quarantine may include, without limitation, confinement in a residence or other private or public premises including medical and nonmedical facilities; conditions on travel or behavior; and exclusion of individuals or groups from certain places, including but not limited to school, workplace, public conveyances, and other places where members of the public may congregate; or a requirement that a person self-monitor specified health conditions (e.g., body temperature) and report the findings.

c. Administrative orders to isolate or quarantine an individual or a group of individuals may be issued orally if delay in imposing the isolation or quarantine would pose a serious imminent danger to the public health. If an oral order is issued, a written order shall be issued as soon as is reasonably possible, but in no event later than 24 hours following the issuance of the oral order.

d. A copy of the written order shall be provided to the individual to be isolated or quarantined or, if that is not possible, by any means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice. If the order applies to a group of individuals and it is impractical to provide individual copies, the order shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the isolation or quarantine premises.

e. The order of isolation or quarantine shall include the following:

f. When individuals or groups are isolated or quarantined, whether through an administrative order or through voluntary compliance, the department or county board of health shall determine what method and place of isolation or quarantine is appropriate based upon the suitability of an individual's home or other designated facility and the services available.

g. To the greatest extent that it is possible to do so without jeopardizing the integrity of the isolation or quarantine, the authority issuing the isolation or quarantine order shall preserve and facilitate the ability of isolated and quarantined individuals to communicate with the outside world and, in particular, to exchange confidential communications with legal and medical advisors of their choice.

h. A person diagnosed with or clinically suspected of having infectious tuberculosis shall complete voluntary treatment until, in the opinion of the health care provider or the state public health medical director and epidemiologist, the person's tuberculosis is cured or such person is no longer a threat to public health. If such person refuses to complete the course of voluntary treatment, the department or local board of health may issue an order compelling mandatory treatment. Such order shall include the identity of the person subject to the mandatory treatment order, a description of the treatment ordered, the medical basis upon which the treatment is ordered, and a description of the potential medical and legal consequences of violating such order. A person who violates a mandatory treatment order may be subject to the penalties provided in Iowa Code section 135.38 or 137.117 and may be placed under mandatory quarantine or isolation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

a. Individuals have the right to appeal an order imposing isolation or quarantine. Appeal procedures for department orders are as laid forth in 441-Chapter 7.

b. A request for a hearing shall not stay an isolation or quarantine order unless by order of the issuing department or board, or by a district court.

a. Appeal. The subject of a board order imposing isolation or quarantine may appeal a written order by submitting a written appeal within ten days of receipt of the written order. The appeal shall be addressed to the issuing board. Unless stayed by order of the board or a district court, the written order for quarantine or isolation shall remain in force and effect until the appeal is finally determined and disposed of upon its merits.

b. Proceeding. The appeal proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with this rule and specific local board of health rules governing appeal proceedings. The proceeding shall be held as soon as is practicable and in no case later than ten days from the date of receipt of the appeal. The hearing may be held by telephonic or other electronic means if necessary to prevent additional exposure to the communicable or possibly communicable disease. In extraordinary circumstances and for good cause shown, the board may continue the proceeding date for up to ten days, giving due regard to the rights of the affected individuals, the protection of the public's health, and the availability of necessary witnesses and evidence. At the appeal proceeding, the subject of the appeal shall have the right to introduce evidence on all issues relevant to the order. The board, by majority vote, may modify, withdraw, or order compliance with the order under appeal.

c. Judicial review. The aggrieved party to the final decision of the board may petition for judicial review of that action by filing an action in the appropriate district court. Petitions for judicial review shall be filed within 30 days after the decision becomes final.

d. Immediate judicial review of board order. The board acknowledges that in certain circumstances the subject or subjects of a board order may desire immediate judicial review of a board order in lieu of proceeding with the board's appeal process. The board may consent to immediate jurisdiction of the district court when requested by the subject or subjects of a board order and justice so requires. Unless stayed by order of the board or a district court, the written order for quarantine or isolation shall remain in force and effect until the judicial review is finally determined and disposed of upon its merits.

a. Jurisdictional issues. The department has primary jurisdiction to isolate or quarantine individuals or groups of individuals if the communicable disease outbreak has affected more than one county or has multicounty, statewide, or interstate public health implications. When imposing isolation or quarantine, the department will coordinate with the local health department as appropriate. If isolation or quarantine is imposed by the department, a local board of health or local health department may not alter, amend, modify, or rescind the isolation or quarantine order.

b. Assistance of local boards of health and local health departments. If isolation or quarantine is imposed by the department, the local boards of health and the local health departments in the affected areas will assist in the implementation of the isolation or quarantine order.

c. Assistance of law enforcement. Pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135, all peace officers of the state will enforce and execute a lawful department order for isolation or quarantine within their respective jurisdictions. The department will take all reasonable measures to minimize the risk of exposure to peace officers and others assisting with enforcement of an isolation or quarantine order.

d. Penalty. Violation of a lawful isolation or quarantine order will be subject to penalties pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135.

e. Enforcement action. The department may file a civil action in the Polk County district court or in the district court for the county in which the individual resides or is located to enforce a department order for isolation or quarantine. Such action will be filed in accordance with the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.

a. The department or local board of health 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.

b. No person shall enter isolation or quarantine premises unless authorized to do so by the department or local board of health.

c. Any person entering isolation or quarantine premises may be required to wear personal protective equipment or receive vaccination or any other preventative care as appropriate.

d. Any person entering isolation or quarantine premises, with or without authorization, may be subject to an order of quarantine as deemed medically necessary.