(a) The Department may inspect any premises, matter or thing within its jurisdiction, including but not limited to any premises where an activity regulated by this Code is carried on, and any record required to be kept pursuant to this Code, in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In order to determine whether the provisions of this Code or the provisions of other law which the Department has the authority to enforce are being complied with, the Department may investigate or authorize an investigation to be made of any matter, incident, thing, person or event within its jurisdiction.
(c) Subject to the provisions of this Code or other applicable law, the Department may take such action as may become necessary to assure the maintenance of public health, the prevention of disease, or the safety of the City and its residents.
(d) Where urgent public health action is necessary to protect the public health against an imminent or existing threat, the Commissioner may declare a public health emergency. Upon the declaration of such an emergency, and during the continuance of such emergency, the Commissioner may establish procedures to be followed, issue necessary orders and take such actions as may be necessary for the health or the safety of the City and its residents. Such procedures, orders or actions may include, but are not limited to, exercising the Board's authority to suspend, alter or modify any provision of this Code pursuant to subdivision b of Section 558 of the Charter, or exercising any other power of the Board of Health to prevent, mitigate, control or abate an emergency, provided that any such exercise of authority or power shall be effective only until the next meeting of the Board, which meeting shall be held within five business days of the Commissioner's declaration if a quorum of the Board can be convened within such time period. If a quorum of the Board cannot be so convened, then said meeting shall be held as soon as reasonably practicable. At its next meeting, the Board may continue or rescind the Commissioner's suspension, alteration, modification of Health Code provisions or exercise of power. An order issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be effective from the time and in the manner prescribed in the order and shall be published as soon as practicable in a newspaper of general circulation in the city and transmitted to the radio and television media for publication and broadcast. In the alternative, in circumstances where the order is directed at a finite number of known persons, the Commissioner may transmit the order to such persons in a manner the Commissioner deems practicable under the circumstances, including but not limited to mail, electronic mail, facsimile, closed electronic network, in person, or by telephone. Copies of orders issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be immediately circulated to and filed with the Board, and the Department shall maintain records attesting to the manner and timing of their publication or transmittal.
(e) The Commissioner's powers under this section are separate and apart from his or her powers pursuant to other provisions of law, including powers arising from a proclamation of emergency issued by the Mayor under section 24 of Article 2-B of the New York State Executive Law or the Mayor's directions thereunder. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the exercise of the powers granted under this section in combination with powers authorized under any other law or arising from such a proclamation or directions.