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