Governmental Public Health Powers During the COVID-19 Pandemic [jamanetwork.com]
By Lawrence O. Gostin and Lindsay F. Wiley, JAMA Network, April 2, 2020 The president and all 50 governors have declared health emergencies to counteract the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While researchers race to develop vaccines, officials are implementing physical distancing, including orders to stay at home, restricting travel, and closing nonessential businesses (see eFigure in the Supplement ).