Quarantine: Concept, Origin and Impact on COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Although, the story of the beginnings of quarantine is associated particularly with the epidemiology of pest (pestilence or plague), the concept is deeply rooted in religious scriptures. Whereas the Holy Bible commands the separation of people with leprosy from other people as early as 1513 BC, the Hadees (Reported Sayings of the Last Messenger Muhammad (AD 570-632) ordains “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place." This dictate seems to have its influence to the main tenets of the Law of Ragusa dated July 27, 1377 which stipulate: -Visitors from areas where plague was endemic were not being admitted into Ragusa until they had remained in isolation for a month. No one from Ragusa was allowed to go to the isolation area. The quarantine is much modified in modern practice because of the better understanding of contagion and introduction of new terminology. Social distancing and self -isolation have proved their worth in the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Shielding of clinically extremely vulnerable individuals has been implicated with remarkable success in UK. However, public health practices including quarantine have always been much debated and economic, cultural, ethical and political issues have been raised. Today, many countries have the legal authority to impose quarantine. However, the WHO advises that it must be fully respectful of the dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons, in accordance with Article 3 of the International Health Regulations -2005.