Widespread coronavirus transmission is now inevitable. A successful response must protect the health and human rights of everyone in US - esp the most vulnerable. Guidelines in our open letter, signed by more than 450 public health and legal experts: law.yale.edu/yls-today/news… /1
The letter details a series of important legislative and policy-based recommendations and advocates for the protection of vulnerable populations, especially healthcare workers, people living with chronic health conditions, incarcerated individuals, and the elderly. /2
With help of @gregggonsalves and others at @Yale, @Harvard, @Northeastern, and @TempleUniv, among others, we drafted the letter, and many experts as well as leading health and human rights organizations have signed. Read it here: law.yale.edu/sites/default/… /3
key points: "The extent and impact of the outbreak in the US is difficult to predict and will depend crucially on how policymakers and leaders react." /4
We need "adequate funding and support for the response; fair and effective management of surging health care demand; careful and evidence-based mitigation of public fear; and necessary support and resources for fair and effective infection control." /5
"Government must have a coordinated plan for keeping its operations running in the event of work absences. Priority should be given to essential services and support to the public, for example ensuring that Social Security, veterans’ and other benefits are not disrupted." /6
"Healthcare workers and other first responders will be critical to the response. We must ensure their safety and give them fair working conditions." /7
"Healthcare facilities must be immigration enforcement-free zones so that immigration status does not prevent a person from seeking care. The COVID-19 response should not be linked to immigration enforcement in any manner." /8
Many in US are uninsured or face insurance barriers to following public health recommendations. Testing and any new meds, vax - if developed - must be available to all. We cannot allow insurance status or copays, out-of-network billing to deter people from accessing care. /9
Many countries now facing new cases have much stronger social support systems and safety nets in place -- here, we will need a real surge of support so that people are able to comply when we ask them to stay home or engage in social distancing. /10
"To enable people to cooperate with social distancing and other measures, policymakers must ensure that people are protected from job loss, economic hardship, and undue burden. If people are asked to avoid public transport or work... /11
policymakers and employers should give them an explicit incentive to stay home, either with payments or by compensation for lost wages, as has been done elsewhere." See Hong Kong - bbc.com/news/world-asi…. And UK theguardian.com/world/2020/feb… /12
"Public health officials must provide safe and humane conditions to individuals who are quarantined whether in homes, facilities, or communities. Government must ensure that anyone isolated or quarantined has access to the basic necessities, including food, water, medicine." /13
Individuals facing mandatory measures "should be afforded procedural due process, including universal access to legal counsel, to ensure their claims of discrimination or of hazardous conditions associated with their confinement are adjudicated." /14
"Special attention must be paid to the needs of people in long-term care or confinement.... People in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, as well as those who are incarcerated or homeless, are at special risk of infection, given their living situations." /15
"Arrest and short-term incarceration can help amplify epidemics, and broader criminal justice policies should take into account the impact that policing and arrest policies have on health." /16
Thanks to Hannah Ehrlich, @MaryPetrone10 @KayokoShioda who provided critical help in the process! /END
