Security Threats and Challenges of Coronavirus Outbreak

Abstract

Emergencies, which affect public health, pose special challenges for security, police, and law enforcement agencies. Whether this threat may be man-made (such as anthrax) or (biological terrorist attacks) or naturally occurring (such as Flu or Corona epidemics). Security strategies differ as per the threat cause and level, in addition to the potential risk to the security, police, and law enforcement forces. These strategies deal with infected cases of police officers and their families. Medical emergencies require coordination and rapid response from public health officials in the country and supportive bodies of public emergency states. Security, police, and law enforcement agencies’ role may include enforcing public health orders (such as quarantine or travel restrictions), securing surrounding areas where the epidemic outbreaks, securing health care units, controlling the crowded people, investigating suspected biological terrorism scenes, or protecting national vaccines or other drugs stocks. In cases of epidemics outbreak on a wide scale, such as Corona, the security, police, and law enforcement officials will resort to balance their resources and efforts among these new responsibilities and daily service requirements on the security of the community and safety of its individuals. The ability of the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to any emergency condition whether related to the public health scale or not mainly depends on the readiness and planning of these agencies with its strategic partners to challenge these emergencies.