Meaning that these extra rights will only apply in the case of an emergency?
KJ: There needs to be a Health Board designated health emergency and a request for the PPA to help. The police will not have these rights otherwise. The process of involvement has taken place through professional assistance requests so far.
Involvement is possible without an emergency or an emergency situation.
KJ: It is possible, while the Health Board would have to provide a very good explanation of why it cannot handle the situation itself as a capable law enforcement body. But the board cannot keep on top of all of its tasks in the pandemic today.
Mr. Helme, what do you perceive as the main problem with this amendment?
MARTIN HELME: Allow me to point to another problem before I get to the heart of the matter. Namely, cold-blooded attempts to mislead the public. We were given another heap of misinformation just now (in Jaani’s answers – ed.). These powers will not be limited to emergencies.
The problem is that the bill aims to give the Health Board and PPA powers that should only be used in emergencies or emergency situations. It includes a lot of previous sections that expand those powers. For example, there is no definition of a novel and dangerous infectious disease. Basically, the Health Board could declare the common cold a novel and dangerous malady.