COVID-19
Public health agencies, health care workers, emergency managers, and policymakers are grappling with core legal preparedness and response efforts to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The Network’s real-time resources, guidance, and information are available to assist the public health community in this challenging time, and law and policy experts are available to provide direct assistance – get details.

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Resources

Guidance: State COVID-19 Emergency Declarations

Legal and Health Care Repercussions of the End of the National Public Health Emergency

Legal Repercussions of Public Health Emergency Rescissions

COVID-19 Related Opinions and Orders from the U.S. Supreme Court

CDC Travel Mask Mandate Litigation

Legal Liability for Acts of “COVID Denialism”

Federal Vaccine Mandates in Response to COVID-19

50 State Survey: Summary of Enacted Laws and Pending Bills Limiting Public Health Authority: The Second Wave

Crisis Standards of Care: COVID-19 State Invocations

Federal Vaccine Mandates: Assessing their Legalities

Michigan School Districts’ Legal Authority and Responsibility to Protect Students from COVID-19

COVID-19 and Crisis Standards of Care Implementation: Navigating the Legal Challenges

Guidance: OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Standard for Large Employers

Guidance: COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorizations and Off-label Prescribing – Considerations for Healthcare Providers

COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates: Recent Court Cases

Guidance: Waiver of EMTALA Re: Hospital Implementation of Crisis Standards of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Back-to-School Legal Trends and Challenges Relating to COVID-19

Court Processes for Handling Eviction Cases During COVID-19

Back to School: Overview of Legal Challenges to Mask and Vaccine Requirements

2021 Public Health Law Conference Preview Webinar: Equitable COVID-19 Recovery

Guidance: COVID-19 Vaccine and Employer Mandates

Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Strengthening Protections for Communities

COVID-19 Vaccination: State Minor Consent Requirements

Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Strengthening Protections for Families

Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Ensuring Quality Care for Vulnerable Populations

Federal PREP Act Liability Protections for COVID-19 Vaccination

Emergency Legal Preparedness: COVID-19

COVID-19 Policy Playbook II: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future

One Month of Executive Orders for the Biden Administration: Public Health Impact Chart

A New National Strategy for COVID-19 Response: Legal Opportunities and Challenges

50 State Survey: Legal Protections for Public Health Officials

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Legal Issues and Challenges

Election 2020: Public Health Legal Reforms and Projections

2020 Election: Public Health on the Ballot

IZ Gateway Project Legal Agreements: Facilitating Secure Data Sharing for Jurisdictions’ Immunization Information Systems

COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Assessing Legal Responses to COVID-19

Increased Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder during the COVID-19 Epidemic and Beyond

COVID-19: Protecting Voter Health and Participation in the 2020 Elections

State and Local Efforts to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis

COVID-19: Public and Global Health Law and Ethics Across Diverse Systems, Populations and Workforces

COVID-19: Navigating Public Health Emergency Legal Responses Underlying Re-opening State/Local Economies

COVID-19: Legal and Policy Strategies to Promote Mental Health

State-Level COVID-19 Liability Protections

COVID-19: Focus on Emerging Constitutional Challenges

Overview of COVID-19 Emergency Declarations

COVID-19 Real-Time Legal Responses: Local Governments on the Frontlines

U.S. Legal Preparedness and Real-time Responses: COVID-19

2019 Novel Coronavirus: Legal Preparedness and Public Health Response Efforts
Spotlight

Addressing Indoor Air Quality through Model Law

End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to CDC Data Collection and Surveillance

A Renewed Focus on Health Equity in Wayne County, Michigan
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Real-time assistance for questions related to COVID-19 response
The Network can assist local, county, tribal and state health agencies with timely guidance, resources and information critical to key COVID-19 response measures, particularly in the areas of:
- public health authority and emergency powers,
- constitutionality of practices,
- health data privacy,
- protections for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals,
- crisis standards of care, and
- ethical decision making.
See below for contact information for law and policy experts at each of our Region Offices, or submit your question online using the form.
Want our help?

Western Region Office
Experts at the Western Region Office can assist with a broad range of questions related to COVID-19 legal preparedness and response, including:
» Emergency declarations
» Isolation and quarantine
» Constitutionality of actions
» Crisis standards of care
- Contact a Western Region Law & Policy Expert
James G. Hodge, Jr. Director (480) 727-8576
jhodge@networkforphl.orgApril Shaw Staff Attorney (480) 727-2091
ashaw@networkforphl.orgLeila Barraza Consultant (480) 965-9741
lbarraza@networkforphl.orgSarah Wetter Staff Attorney (570) 906-1921
swetter@networkforphl.org
Northern Region Office
Experts at the Northern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Impact on mental health
» Telehealth, distance learning, and broadband access
» Challenges/responses for rural communities
» Environmental and climate issues
- Contact a Northern Region Law & Policy Expert
Jill Krueger Director (952) 452-9705
jkrueger@networkforphl.orgBetsy Lawton Senior Staff Attorney (952) 452-9697
blawton@networkforphl.org
Mid-States Region Office
Experts at the Mid-States Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Data privacy and freedom of information laws
» Public health authority, emergency powers and decision-making
» Americans with Disabilities Act
» Emergency contracting and procurement
» Sick leave and Family Medical Leave Act
» Employer and employee rights
- Contact a Mid-States Region Law & Policy Expert
Denise Chrysler Director (734) 647-1316
dchrysler@networkforphl.orgPeter D. Jacobson Co-Director Jennifer Bernstein Deputy Director (734) 764-6772
jbernstein@networkforphl.orgColleen Healy Boufides Deputy Director (734) 764-2089
chealyboufides@networkforphl.orgSallie Milam Deputy Director (952) 452-9700
smilam@networkforphl.org
Southeastern Region Office
Experts at the Southeastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Medicaid and COVID-19 response
» Drug prevention and local boards of health
» Messaging
- Contact a Southeastern Region Law & Policy Expert
Gene Matthews Director (734) 647-1316
gmatthews@networkforphl.orgJane Perkins Senior Attorney (919) 260-4303
jperkins@networkforphl.orgSarah Somers Managing Director (919) 968-6308 Ext. 102
ssomers@networkforphl.orgCorey Davis Deputy Director (310) 736-1657
cdavis@networkforphl.orgAmy Lieberman Senior Attorney (952) 500-9105
alieberman@networkforphl.org
Eastern Region Office
Experts at the Eastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Eviction bans
» Utility shutoff bans
» Food access during school closures
- Contact an Eastern Region Law & Policy Expert
Kathi Hoke Director (410) 706-1294
khoke@networkforphl.orgMegan Griest Chief of Staff (410) 706-0584
mgriest@networkforphl.orgKerri McGowan
LowreyDeputy Director & Director
of Grants & Research(410) 706-5994
klowrey@networkforphl.orgMathew Swinburne Associate Director (410) 706-4532
mswinburne@networkforphl.org