For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. The state’s Chief Medical Officer appointed pursuant to Neb. RS 81-3115, if the state’s Public Health Department Director is not a medical doctor.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, ILLNESS or POISONING. An illness due to an infectious or malignant agent, which is capable of being transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or animal through the agency of an intermediate animal, host or vector, or through the inanimate environment.
DECONTAMINATION. The removal or neutralizing of contaminating material, such as radioactive materials, biological materials or chemical warfare agents, from a person or object to the extent necessary to preclude the occurrence of foreseeable adverse health effects. DECONTAMINATION includes remediation or destruction of sources of communicable disease or biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear agents.
DEPARTMENT. The Central District Health Department.
DIRECTED HEALTH MEASURES. Any measure, whether prophylactic or remedial, intended and directed to prevent or limit the spread of communicable disease or to prevent or limit public exposure to or spread of biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear agents.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Central District Health Department, or a person acting on behalf of the Director as his or her designee.
HEALTH CARE FACILITY. Any facility licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act, being Neb. RS 71-401 et seq., and shall include such additional clinics not licensed under that act as may be identified in specific orders issued pursuant to these regulations.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. Any credentialed person regulated under the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Act, being Neb. RS 38-201 et seq., the Emergency Medical Services Act, being Neb. RS 38-1201 et seq., the Licensed Practical Nurse-Certified Act, being Neb. Admin. Code Title 172, the Nebraska Certified Nurse Midwifery Practice Act, being Neb. RS 38-601 et seq., the Nurse Practice Act, being Neb. RS 38-2201 et seq., the Occupational Therapy Practice Act, being Neb. RS 38-2501 et seq., the Uniform Licensing Law, being Neb. RS 38-3101 et seq., or Neb. RS 71-7907.
ISOLATION. The separation of people who have a specific communicable disease from healthy people and the restriction of their movement to stop the spread of that disease.
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. A local public health department as defined by Neb. RS 71-1626 and its governing officials.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). Equipment ordered or used to protect an individual from communicable disease, illness or poisoning.
PREMISES. Land and any structures upon it.
PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY. Any individual or entity charged by law with a duty or authority to enforce or carry out a public health function.
QUARANTINE. Directed to identified individuals or defined populations means the restriction of, or conditions upon, the movement and activities of people who are not yet ill, but who have been or may have been exposed to an agent of communicable disease, illness or poisoning and are therefore potentially capable of communicating a disease, illness or poison. The purpose is to prevent or limit the spread of communicable disease, illness or poison. QUARANTINE of individuals or defined populations generally involves the separation of the quarantined, from the general population.
QUARANTINE and ISOLATION. These terms both include restriction of, or conditions upon, the movement and activities of people to prevent or limit the spread of communicable disease, illness or poisoning. In circumstances where animals are agents of communicable disease, illness or poisoning, either term may apply to such animals.
QUARANTINE OFFICER. The statutorily established quarantine officer for a municipality or county, usually the chief executive or top law enforcement officer.
QUARANTINE OF PREMISES. Restriction of the movement of all people upon, into or out from those premises to prevent or limit the spread of communicable disease or to prevent or limit public exposure to or spread of biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear agents.
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure or its successor.
(Ord. 889, passed 7-10-2006)