[dragonwriter]

> I don't get it... what's the problem with using existing tools, such as bringing criminal charges against these people?

This is an existing tool, and it's one that the occupants were warned would be used if they continued their violations.

Criminal charges are slower, and don't do as much to stop the immediate threat without custodial arrest and pretrial confinement, either in jail, which itself is a public health issue, especially when high-risk transmission behavir is involved, or in separate isolation (which IIRC is available for public health order violations but is manpower intensive.)