La pandemia de la covid-19, la fuerza mayor y la alteración de las circunstancias en materia contractual / The covid-19 pandemic, force majeure and changed contractual circumstances / A pandemia da covid-19, a força maior e a alteração das circunstâncias em matéria contratual

La declaratoria del estado de emergencia, a causa de la pandemia de la covid-19, exige un análisis de la vigencia de las relaciones contractuales y cómo estas pueden verse afectadas por eventos extraordinarios, imprevisibles e irresistibles que impidan el cumplimiento de las prestaciones, así como aquellos casos en los que la alteración de las circunstancias puede llevar a que una de las partes exija al juez recomponga el contenido de la prestación pactada o la resolución del contrato.

The declaration of a state of emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic requires an analysis of the validity of the contractual relations and how these may be affected by extraordinary, unforeseeable and irresistible events that prevent the performance of the services, as well as those cases in which the alteration of circumstances may lead one of the parties to demand that the judge recompose the content of the agreed service or terminate the contract.

A declaração de estado de emergência, devido à pandemia da covid-19, exige uma análise da vigência das relações contratuais e como estas podem ser afetadas por eventos extraordinários, imprevisíveis e irresistíveis que impeçam o cumprimento das prestações, assim como aqueles casos em que a alteração das circunstâncias podem levar a que uma das partes exija que o juiz recomponha o conteúdo da prestação acordada ou a rescisão do contrato.

COVID-19 and quarantine orders: A practical approach

Quarantine is a very effective method for containing the spread of highly infectious diseases in large populations during a pandemic, but it is only effective if properly implemented. The co-operation and compliance of people entering quarantine are critical to its success. However, owing to the isolating and social distancing nature of quarantine, it often leads to extreme economic hardship and shortages in basic needs such as food, medicine, water and communication ­ and to the curtailment of certain universal social norms such as attending a parent's funeral. To escape these hardships, people often refuse to enter voluntary quarantine, or breach quarantine rules. In these circumstances, health authorities are obliged to act in the best interests of the public and obtain court orders to force some people into quarantine. In further extreme circumstances, when a national lockdown is ordered, non-compliance with quarantine measures may result in arrests and penalties. The scope of this article is limited to the period prior to and following such a lockdown, during which quarantine may still be vital for the containment of COVID-19. Because a quarantine order will deprive an individual of his or her freedom, this must be carefully balanced with the public interest. This article explains the legal and ethical considerations of this balancing exercise and provides practical guidance for obtaining quarantine orders

Isolation and quarantine in South Africa during COVID-19: Draconian measures or proportional response?

In the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, extraordinary containment measures must be implemented. These include both isolation and quarantine, either on a voluntary basis or enforced. In the transition from voluntary to mandatory isolation, conflicts arise at the intersection of ethics, human rights and the law. The Siracusa Principles adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1985 and enshrined in international human rights legislation and guidelines specify conditions under which civil liberties may be infringed. In order for isolation processes in South Africa to claim legitimacy, it is important that these principles as well as national laws and constitutional rights are embedded in state action

Legal Issues in Quarantine and Isolation for Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases / 예방의학회지

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea in 2015 has drawn public attention regarding the legal regulation of infectious disease control in Korea. This paper discusses the interpretive and legislative concerns regarding the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, its ordinance and enforcement regulations, as well as public statements from the relevant administrative agency. Future improvements are also proposed.

A model for the A(H1N1) epidemic in Mexico, including social isolation / Un modelo para la epidemia de A(H1N1) en México incorporando aislamiento social

OBJECTIVE: We present a model for the 2009 influenza epidemic in Mexico to describe the observed pattern of the epidemic from March through the end of August (before the onset of the expected winter epidemic) in terms of the reproduction number and social isolation measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The model uses a system of ordinary differential equations. Computer simulations are performed to optimize trajectories as a function of parameters. RESULTS: We report on the theoretical consequences of social isolation using published estimates of the basic reproduction number. The comparison with actual data provides a reasonable good fit. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of the epidemic outbreak in Mexico is characterized by two peaks resulting from the application of very drastic social isolation measures and other prophylactic measures that lasted for about two weeks. Our model is capable of reproducing the observed pattern.

OBJETIVO: Se presenta un modelo de la epidemia de influenza en México en 2009 para describir el patrón observado desde marzo hasta finales de agosto (antes del inicio de la epidemia invernal), en términos del número reproductivo y las medidas de aislamiento social. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: El modelo es un sistema de ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias. Se realizaron simulaciones computacionales para la optimización de trayectorias como función de los parámetros. RESULTADOS: Se exploran las consecuencias de esta última medida combinada con los valores estimados en la literatura médica del número reproductivo básico. CONCLUSIONES: El patrón de la epidemia mexicana de influenza es bimodal debido a la aplicación del aislamiento social y otras medidas profilácticas que duró aproximadamente dos semanas. Este modelo es capaz de reproducir el patrón observado.