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

Burris, S., de Guia, S., Gable, L., Levin, D.E., Parmet, W.E., Terry, N.P. (Eds.) (2021). COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future. Boston: Public Health Law Watch.

Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2021-21

246 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2021 Last revised: 11 Jun 2021

See all articles by Scott Burris

Scott Burris

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law

Sarah de Guia

ChangeLab Solutions

Lance Gable

Wayne State University Law School

Donna Levin

Network for Public Health Law

Wendy E. Parmet

Northeastern University - School of Law

Nicolas Terry

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Date Written: March 15, 2021

Abstract

This Report, including 39 chapters by more than 50 experts, updates and expands the initial rapid COVID-19 legal assessment published in August 2020. The failures we noted in the first Report have only worsened, culminating in the sad moment in February when the country reached 500,000 deaths. For Volume II of the Report, our team has revisited the legal issues we first surveyed early in the pandemic, and have added new topics, including education, data systems, and the lessons of the 2020 pandemic election. Even for the subjects covered previously, this Report consists of largely new material, including new, post-election recommendations, which we highlight in this summary. Volume I confronted a historic failure of law and policy. Volume II points to a historic opportunity to remake our institutions, public and clinical health law and policy, and the social contract.

Once again, we have asked our authors to focus on how law has served the nation’s response to COVID-19, and to offer concrete suggestions for immediate and long-term changes to better serve the health of the nation. Each of the six sections of the Report addresses a big question:

1. How can government power best be used to prevent and control pandemics like COVID-19?

2. How can law help best harness the power and overcome the limitations of a divided system of federal, state, and local governments?

3. What reforms are needed to get high quality, affordable health care to everyone during the pandemic and beyond?

4. What can law do to help ensure access to essential medicines and medical supplies?

5. What legal steps are needed to protect American workers and their families from COVID-19 and its economic side effects?

6. Finally, and most importantly, what must be done through law to knock down the structures of racism and inequality that produce health inequity now, and prevent the American people from working together for health and prosperity in the future?

This Report offers more than 100 specific legal recommendations for the president and Congress, governors and state legislatures, and mayors and city councilors across the country.

Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, public health law, pandemic, legal responses

Suggested Citation

Burris, Scott C. and de Guia, Sarah and Gable, Lance and Levin, Donna and Parmet, Wendy E. and Terry, Nicolas P., COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future (March 15, 2021). Burris, S., de Guia, S., Gable, L., Levin, D.E., Parmet, W.E., Terry, N.P. (Eds.) (2021). COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future. Boston: Public Health Law Watch., Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2021-21, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3807502

Scott C. Burris (Contact Author)

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law ( email )

1719 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States
215-204-6576 (Phone)
215-204-1185 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.phlr.org

Sarah De Guia

ChangeLab Solutions ( email )

2201 Broadway, Suite 502
Suite 502
Oakland, CA 94612
United States

Lance Gable

Wayne State University Law School ( email )

471 Palmer
Detroit, MI 48202
United States

Donna Levin

Network for Public Health Law ( email )

Saint Paul, MN
United States

Wendy E. Parmet

Northeastern University - School of Law ( email )

416 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
United States
(617) 373-2019 (Phone)
(617) 373-5056 (Fax)

Nicolas P. Terry

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law ( email )

530 W. New York St
Indianapolis, IN 46202
United States

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