Protect and Improve Air Quality to Prevent High Mortality Rates from Future Pandemics

Law & Policy InsightsEnvironment, Climate and Health

April 21, 2020
by Betsy Lawton

As the earth’s climate warms and animals and humans relocate to more habitable locations, increased interactions with a variety of wildlife in new and different contexts places humans at risk of new viruses, making preventative measures to reduce pollution and address underlying health vulnerabilities such as asthma, chronic lung disease, or heart conditions even more important.

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Disclosure of COVID-19 Information by Domestic Violence Agencies or Shelters

Legal Technical Assistance HighlightsCOVID-19Health Data Sharing and PrivacyDomestic ViolenceSocial and Community Context

April 8, 2020
by Colleen Healy Boufides

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised numerous questions with regard to public health reporting requirements. This guidance addresses whether domestic violence agencies or shelters have an obligation to report cases of COVID-19 to a state or local public health department.

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A Public Health Framework for Implementing Economic and Social Supports

Law & Policy InsightsCOVID-19Emergency Legal Preparedness and ResponseEconomic Stability

April 2, 2020
by John T. Monahan

The $2 trillion-plus Coronavirus response law, along with two other pandemic-related funding bills earlier this month, provide for a vast array of new federally-funded programs and policies aimed at helping individuals and families battered by a global pandemic and harmed by the economic downturn precipitated by our broad-based public health response. An overarching public health framework can guide the shared work of federal, state and local agencies to implement these new policies and programs.

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Supporting Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Law & Policy InsightsCOVID-19Mental Health and Well-Being

March 26, 2020
by Jill Krueger

The COVID-19 outbreak occurring in the United States and in many other countries has profound implications for mental health. Just as public health is leading the way to protect physical health in the context of COVID-19, public health can take steps to promote mental health and community resilience. While public health has emergency isolation, quarantine, and social distancing powers, taking small steps where consistent with good public health practice can support mental well-being.

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COVID-19 Pandemic Prompts Federal Agencies to Reduce Restrictions on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Law & Policy InsightsCOVID-19Substance Use Prevention and Harm ReductionHarm Reduction Legal ProjectTelehealth

March 21, 2020
by Corey Davis

The medications methadone and buprenorphine are extremely effective in reducing the harms associated with opioid use disorder. In light of the ongoing public health emergency associated with COVID-19 the federal government has recently taken a number of steps to increase access to these lifesaving medications.

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Combatting COVID-19 through Law and Policy: Social Distancing Only Works if People Can Stay at Home

Law & Policy InsightsCOVID-19Healthy and Affordable HousingSocial Distancing MeasuresSocial and Community Context

March 18, 2020
by Kerri McGowan Lowrey

Workers who are sick and one paycheck away from not being able to pay rent are more likely to go to work, potentially exposing others in their workplace and on public transportation to COVID-19. In response, just in the past week, several jurisdictions have taken innovative steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by instituting policies designed to ensure that people can stay in their homes.

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