Effect of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and Threats to Human Rights

Seung-Hun Hong ,Min-Hye Park,Ha Jin Hwang

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3677019

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to curb rapid virus transmission. A growing concern is that such interventions, aimed at ensuring public safety, may severely restrain fundamental human rights. This paper examines which NPIs are more effective than others in containing COVID-19 with the consideration of their threat to human rights. After classifying NPIs into three categories according to their threat to human rights: the right to freedom of movement, the right to freedom of assembly, and the right to privacy, this paper conducts linear regression analyses on the effectiveness of NPIs in containing COVID-19 over 108 countries. This paper finds that school closure is effective in containing COVID-19 only when it is implemented along with complete contact tracing. We confirm the results of the regression analysis by examining the changes in the cumulated number of confirmed cases and the changes of NPIs in ten selected countries. Our findings imply that to contain COVID-19 effectively and minimize the risk of human rights abuse, governments should consider implementing prudently designed full contact tracing and school closure policies, among others. Other interventions limiting freedom of movement and assembly should be carefully adopted with minimal infringement of human rights.

Highlights

In his eloquent explanation of Panopticism, Foucault described how a 17th Century European State hit by plague could shut down local communities and put surveillance on every corner of the street to oppress people’s movement and assembly[1]
Given that public safety is a kind of human rights essential to a democratic society, it is vital to explore the extent to which State emergency power is exercised to contain the spread of COVID-19 effectively while minimizing the risk of human rights abuse
This paper examines which non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are more effective than others in containing COVID-19 with the consideration of their threat to human rights

Summary

Introduction

In his eloquent explanation of Panopticism, Foucault described how a 17th Century European State hit by plague could shut down local communities and put surveillance on every corner of the street to oppress people’s movement and assembly[1]. This paper finds that school closure is effective in containing COVID-19 only when it is implemented along with complete contact tracing. To contain COVID-19 effectively and minimize the risk of human rights violations, governments should consider implementing prudently designed full contact tracing and school closure policies, among others.

Results

Conclusion