Collection Items

RSS
  • Article
    Denmark: Parliament Establishes Committee to Oversee New Epidemics Act (Mar. 9, 2021) On March 2, 2021, the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) established a new parliamentary committee, the Epidemic Committee (Epedimiudvalget). The committee is tasked with reviewing the use of power by the Danish government under the newly adopted Epidemics Act, which entered into force on March 1, 2021. The Epidemics Act gives the Danish government, […]
    • Contributor: Hofverberg, Elin
    • Date: 2021-03-09
  • Article
    Equatorial Guinea: Presidential Decree Authorizes Relaxing Some COVID Epidemic Restrictions, including Curfew On March 18, 2022, the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, issued a decree, Decreto 23/2022, ordering that certain COVID-19-related restrictions in the country be eased.The preamble of the decree explains that in late January 2022, the COVID-19 transmission rate began decreasing substantially and the trend has been sustained since then. As of … Continue reading “Equatorial Guinea: Presidential Decree Authorizes Relaxing…
    • Contributor: Guerra, Gustavo
    • Date: 2022-03-31
  • Article
    China: Man Executed for Killing Government Officials Performing Epidemic Control Duties (Aug. 12, 2020) On July 9, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), China’s highest court, published a press release announcing that the intermediate court of Honghe Prefecture of Yunnan Province had executed a 24-year-old man that day in accordance with an SPC order. The man, named Ma Jianguo, had been sentenced to death by the […]
    • Contributor: Zhang, Laney
    • Date: 2020-08-12
  • Article
    China: Legislative Decision Passed to Punish Trade and Consumption of Wild Animals amid COVID-19 Epidemic (Mar. 19, 2020) On February 24, 2020, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPCSC) passed the Decision on Completely Prohibiting the Illegal Wildlife Trade, Eliminating the Bad Habit of Indiscriminately Eating Wild Animals, and Truly Ensuring the Health and Safety of the People. The decision took effect on the same day. (English translation […]
    • Contributor: Zhang, Laney
    • Date: 2020-03-19
  • Article
    Germany: Amendments to Infectious Diseases Protection Act Enter into Force (Nov. 24, 2020) On November 19, 2020, the Third Act to Protect the Public in the Event of an Epidemic Situation of National Significance (Third Act) entered into force in Germany. The Third Act amends several laws, in particular the Infectious Diseases Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG), to ensure that measures taken to contain the spread […]
    • Contributor: Gesley, Jenny
    • Date: 2020-11-24
  • Article
    France: Government Imposes Confinement Measures to Stem Spread of Coronavirus (Mar. 18, 2020) On Monday, March 16, 2020, President Emmanuel Macron addressed the French nation in a televised speech to announce new measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. The most drastic measure, which was put into effect by a decree of the same date, is mandatory home confinement. Beginning at noon on […]
    • Contributor: Boring, Nicolas
    • Date: 2020-03-18
  • Article
    Taiwan: Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program Implemented, Requiring Masks in High-Risk Places (Jan. 6, 2021) On December 2, 2020, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that a Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program had been implemented on December 1. The program requires members of the public to wear masks in a wide range of places where the risks of catching and transmitting the coronavirus are deemed high. Taiwan […]
    • Contributor: Zhang, Laney
    • Date: 2021-01-06
  • Article
    South Korea: Parliament Responded Quickly to COVID-19 by Amending Three Acts (June 4, 2020) South Korea was one of the first countries outside of China to identify persons who had been infected with COVID-19. By the beginning of March 2020, the epidemics in South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Japan were the World Health Organization’s greatest concern. To enhance the government’s response to the coronavirus disease, the […]
    • Contributor: Umeda, Sayuri
    • Date: 2020-06-04
  • Article
    Germany: Uniform Federal COVID-19 "Emergency Brake" Introduced (Apr. 27, 2021) On April 23, 2021, the Fourth Act to Protect the Public in the Event of an Epidemic Situation of National Significance (Fourth Act) entered into force in Germany. The Fourth Act amends the Infectious Diseases Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG) and introduces a federal “emergency brake” that provides for uniform restrictions in all […]
    • Contributor: Gesley, Jenny
    • Date: 2021-04-27
  • Article
    Brazil: State of Espírito Santo Issues Decree on Fines for Spreading Fake News about Pandemics (Oct. 2, 2020) On September 16, 2020, the governor of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, sanctioned Decree No. 4,731-R (p. 45) regulating Law No. 11,135 (p. 9), of June 2, 2020, which established a fine for those who publish false news about epidemics, endemic diseases, or pandemics in the state. According to article 2 […]
    • Contributor: Soares, Eduardo
    • Date: 2020-10-02
  • Article
    Switzerland: Government Adopts More Stringent Measures to Contain Spread of Coronavirus (Mar. 16, 2020) On March 13, 2020, the Swiss Federal Council­—the Swiss government—­adopted a second regulation that aims to prevent or contain the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland, reduce or prevent the risk of transmission, protect especially vulnerable people, and safeguard the capacities of Switzerland to cope with the epidemic. Of particular concern is ensuring […]
    • Contributor: Gesley, Jenny
    • Date: 2020-03-16
  • Article
    Mexico: Government Issues Decree Ending COVID-19 Health Emergency On May 9, 2023, the Mexican government published a decree declaring the termination of the public health emergency it had instituted by its 2020 Public Health Emergency Declaration (PHED) to address the COVID-19 epidemic.The decree states that the PHED had been issued by Mexico’s health authorities on March 27, 2020, to adopt pertinent emergency measures … Continue reading “Mexico: Government Issues Decree Ending COVID-19…
    • Contributor: Guerra, Gustavo
    • Date: 2023-06-11
  • Article
    Egypt: Prime Minister Cancels COVID Restrictions on Entry of Foreigners and Egyptians into Country On June 16, 2022, Dr. Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, Egypt’s prime minister and chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Management of the Epidemic and Health Pandemic Crisis (Supreme Committee) issued Resolution No. 2 of 2022, repealing all previous restrictions imposed on the entry of Egyptians and foreigners into the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The … Continue reading “Egypt: Prime Minister Cancels COVID Restrictions…
    • Contributor: Sadek, George
    • Date: 2022-07-19
  • Article
    Philippines: National Bureau of Investigation Directed to Pursue Misinformation on Coronavirus (Feb. 24, 2020) On February 4, 2020, the Philippines minister of justice issued a directive instructing the National Bureau of Investigation to look into cases of deliberate dissemination of misinformation about the coronavirus and bring criminal charges against those believed responsible, if pertinent evidence is available. On the same date, a Philippine media organization reported […]
    • Contributor: Guerra, Gustavo
    • Date: 2020-02-24
  • Article
    Philippines: Criminal Charges Filed over Misinformation on Coronavirus (Mar. 2, 2020) On February 17, 2020, the Philippine National Police (PNP)  announced that criminal charges had been filed against an individual who was caught spreading misinformation about coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) on social media. The individual was arrested after he was identified as the author of a Facebook post stating that an alleged coronavirus patient […]
    • Contributor: Guerra, Gustavo
    • Date: 2020-03-02
  • Article
    Israel: New Guidelines Limit Public Gatherings to 100 People, Increase Isolation Requirements for Any Person with Fever and Respiratory Symptoms (Mar. 13, 2020) On the evening of March 11, 2020, Israel time, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus (which had risen to 97 cases by that day), Israel’s Ministry of Health issued new guidelines. The New Guidelines, March 11, 2020 state that their purpose is to reduce the potential for infection […]
    • Contributor: Levush, Ruth
    • Date: 2020-03-13
  • Article
    Japan: Cabinet Issues Orders Relating to Infectious Disease Control Act and Quarantine Act (Mar. 11, 2020) Japan confirmed its first coronavirus (COVID-19) case on January 15, 2020, involving a person who had traveled to Wuhan, China. Consequently, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by persons who have been infected outside Japan, the cabinet issued orders in January and February 2020 relating to the Infectious Disease Control Act […]
    • Contributor: Umeda, Sayuri
    • Date: 2020-03-11
  • Article
    England: Coronavirus Declared "Serious and Imminent Threat" to Public Health; Regulations Passed to Enable Detention and Isolation (Mar. 3, 2020) On February 10, 2020, the secretary of state for health and social care of the United Kingdom, Matt Hancock, introduced the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, which enable a number of public health measures aimed at reducing the public health risks in England arising from Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The Regulations enable […]
    • Contributor: Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
    • Date: 2020-03-03
  • Article
    Indonesia: Entry of Foreigners Banned for Two Weeks in Response to New Variant of COVID-19 (Dec. 31, 2020) On December 28, 2020, the Indonesian government’s COVID-19 task force issued Circular No. 4/2020 Concerning Travel Health Protocols for People During the 2019 Corona Virus Disease Pandemic (COVID-19) (Surat Edaran Nomor 4 Tahun 2020 Tentang Protokol Kesehatan Perjalanan Orang Dalam Masa Pandemi Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)). The circular establishes a travel ban […]
    • Contributor: Buchanan, Kelly
    • Date: 2020-12-31
  • Article
    Nigeria: Appeal for Passage of Sanitation Bill (Mar. 31, 2009) It was reported on March 24, 2009, that the Registrar of the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria, Augustine Ebisike, called for the passage of the Environmental Health Control and Enforcement Sanitation Act, which has been tabled in the National Assembly since 2003. Speaking about the causes of disease epidemics in […]
    • Contributor: Goitom, Hanibal
    • Date: 2009-03-31
  • Article
    France: Prohibition on Blood Donation by Gay Men (Feb. 4, 2009) France's Minister of Health recently signed a regulation increasing the maximum age for donating blood to 70 from 65. The regulation also reiterates the prohibition on blood donations by gay men. During an interview, the Minister of Heath justified her decision by stating: [T]he epidemic data cannot be contested: between 10 to […]
    • Contributor: Atwill, Nicole
    • Date: 2009-02-04
  • Article
    Liberia: Army Orders Border Crossers from Sierra Leone Shot Due to Fear of Ebola (Aug. 22, 2014) On August 15, 2014, Colonel Eric W. Dennis, Deputy Chief of Staff of Liberia’s armed forces, directed soldiers on the border in two counties in the western part of the country to shoot at anyone trying to enter from Sierra Leone. This move comes as a result of the Ebola epidemic; the […]
    • Contributor: Johnson, Constance
    • Date: 2014-08-22
  • Article
    Denmark: Corona Passport Requirement Enters into Force (Apr. 13, 2021) On April 6, 2021, a Danish government requirement for patrons entering “nonessential” businesses to present a “Corona Passport” (Coronapas) indicating their current COVID-19 status took effect. The Corona Passport is part of an expedited planned reopening of Danish society that was agreed to by the nine largest parties represented in the Danish […]
    • Contributor: Hofverberg, Elin
    • Date: 2021-04-13
  • Article
    Brazil: Fines to Bars and Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro Increased Due to Crowding amid Pandemic (Sept. 25, 2020) On September 18, 2020, the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Crivella, announced during a press conference an immediate increase in the fines imposed on bars and restaurants that violate previously established rules limiting the number of occupants at one time. The mayor was spurred to take action because […]
    • Contributor: Soares, Eduardo
    • Date: 2020-09-25
  • Article
    Turkey: Ministry of Interior Affairs Introduces Additional Heightened Measures to Counter COVID-19 Spike (Sept. 11, 2020) On September 8, 2020, Turkey’s Ministry of Interior Affairs (MIA) issued a circular to the governorates of all 81 provinces in the country ordering the implementation of new and extensive health measures in public spaces to counter the COVID-19 outbreak. This follows the apparent upward trend observed in the Ministry’s official numbers […]
    • Contributor: Cantekin, Kayahan
    • Date: 2020-09-11