Questions tagged [covid-19]

For questions about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on laws and other regulations, legal process and proceedings, and legality of action. Consider adding a location tag if the question is specific to a particular jurisdiction.

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How does a requirement to wear a mask infringe civil liberty?

I come from a scientific background, so wearing a mask is second nature in a laboratory & clinical settings: I am biased because I do not want to infect patients or inhale pathogens. That being ...
gatorback's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
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When will Pfizer et. al. be liable for injuries caused by the COVID-19 vaccine?

According to the PREP act, the companies developing and administering the COVID-19 vaccines cannot be sued for unintentional injuries resulting from the vaccine. I have seen enough commercials ...
Ryan_L's user avatar
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17 votes
3 answers
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Legality of adding vaccination record to the US CDC Covid card yourself

I'm a US resident and got my main Covid vaccinations in the US recorded on the US CDC card. I also got one booster shot abroad and would like to have it added to my US CDC card to have all my shots ...
anonimoose's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
9k views

Why is trying to get "vaccinated" into a fake arm considered fraud (in Italy)?

I'm curious under what legal provisions this bizarre story falls under in Italy. An Italian man is facing charges of fraud after turning up for his Covid-19 vaccine wearing a fake arm. [...] After ...
Fizz's user avatar
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15 votes
3 answers
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Does the New York State Governor have the authority to impose fines?

The New York State Governor has allegedly declared a "fine for violations of the state's social distancing protocol from $500 to $1,000...." The government website claiming that declaration ...
feetwet's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
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Would there be legal implications in the US to modifying a real vaccine card with fake info?

I know someone who received two doses of the vaccine, and so she has a real vaccination card. But she had substantial side effects from the second dose, and so doesn't plan on getting a booster. Her ...
Betterthan Kwora's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

Will be asked to come back to work - wife cannot due to children

Due to COVID-19 all schools were closed (At least here in MI - I am certain everywhere). My wife's work is starting to ask when she will return. Unfortunately she has to become our 3 daughter's ...
JonH's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
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Are UK Tier 4 rules law?

In spite of recent communication from the Government, I have not seen any statutory instruments pass Parliament referencing Tier 4. Some speculation implies a vote will take place in January, but as ...
Alexandre Cassagne's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
4k views

Coronavirus - Exercise in a UK National Park

During the current Coronavirus lockdown in the UK (England), is it legal for me to: a) Drive for over one hour (alone) to reach the start of my walk. b) Walk for 4-5 hours (alone) keeping at ...
MJH's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Could Trump be charged with a criminal offense for his actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Recently Carl Bernstein called Donald Trump a "homicidal President": We are witnessing a homicidal president convening ― purposefully ― a homicidal assembly to help him get re-elected as ...
Barmar's user avatar
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8 votes
0 answers
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Are Ontario municipalities allowed to stop issuing marriage licenses during COVID-19?

Some Ontario cities, such as Waterloo say on their website: "Due to COVID-19, marriage licences will be suspended until further notice." Here is a screenshot, in case the website changes. ...
Nike Dattani's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are hot drinks legally classed as a picnic in the UK?

Recently, two women going for a walk in the UK were told by the police that the hot drinks they brought with them were classed as a picnic (note that going for a picnic is illegal in the current ...
user7761803's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
307 views

Intentional covid transmission - attempted murder?

This was mentioned in comments under Criminal transmission of COVID-19? Knowingly exposing vulnerable individuals however, my question involves UK law and a more direct, intentional act that could not ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
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Does ICE have the legal authority to arrest illegal immigrants who came into hospitals due to COVID-19?

I am wondering if ICE has the legal authority to immediately arrest illegal immigrants after they have received medical care at U.S. hospitals for COVID-19. I am referring to people who voluntarily ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Do the German contact restrictions prohibit any form of celebrating?

In response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, Germany has enacted a general "ban on contact", effective starting today (Monday, 2020-03-23). It prohibits any gathering of more than two people in ...
O. R. Mapper's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Mask mandate for unvaccinated employees and privacy

Is it legal for an employer such as a public school (in the US) to impose a mask mandate on only unvaccinated employees, or would that be a violation of those employees ADA or HIPPA rights? It seems ...
nuggethead's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

How does the federal mask mandate end?

I had thought that President Biden was only going to issue a mask mandate that lasted 100 days, President-elect Joe Biden, who plans to make the coronavirus pandemic his top priority, will begin his ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
198 views

Does a store have to hire someone with conflicting views on the pandemic?

Suppose a store is considering an employee for hire when a social media review finds views that conflict with both prevailing governmental advice as well as the views of management. If the discovery ...
corsiKa's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
255 views

Is ignorance of the law a valid excuse for not following emergency laws with no warning period?

Yesterday in Melbourne, Australia a State of Disaster was declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new set of emergency laws came into effect, including an 8pm curfew, no travelling beyond a 5km ...
LeopardSkinPillBoxHat's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
168 views

Being Billed for Services Not Rendered During Lockdown (UK, 2020)

My accommodation for the 2019/20 academic year included certain housekeeping benefits---these are in-built into the price, not billed separately. The exactly details are not so important, but the UK ...
Sam OT's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
404 views

Can Rand Paul be sued for negligent transmission of COVID-19?

Note: I am not wanting to make this political. Please do not attempt to address political aspects of this situation or rail one way or the other. My question would be exactly the same if the facts ...
drop acid not bombs's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
820 views

Harassment in Pandemic

What is the legal term (so that the relevant statute can be looked up) for when someone follows you around with the intent of harassing you and does not maintain 6ft social distancing for coronavirus ...
gatorback's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Taxed in Spain due to COVID overstay?

Someone on Facebook claimed that tourists who were unable to leave Spain due to COVID were declared tax residents if their stay was over 183 days. I haven't been able to find such a case in a web ...
WGroleau's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
403 views

If I warn British Airways that carrying me would break government orders, would they have any legal obligation to serve me a banning notice+refund?

I am not allowed to travel from London to my mum in Inverness for Christmas by UK government order (see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home): "If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must ...
novice's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
205 views

Recourse against landlord entering home during COVID outbreak?

My wife and I are moving out of our current rental in a couple of weeks. Our landlord stated in a text this morning that he can show our house to potential new renters with 24 hours notice, even ...
Biennial's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
227 views

After exchange of contracts in property purchase, what happens if someone has COVID-19 on the completion date?

Say I am selling my home to a buyer and also purchasing a house from someone, and the chain of sales goes no further than this (for the sake of simplicity). All house sales are in the UK, where you ...
Clusks's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
224 views

What prevents an employer from mandating vaccination?

IANAL: Would said requirement need to be found unconstitutional in order to prevent mandating vaccine in prisons, where prisoners are literally a captive audience? The two stakeholders comprise at ...
gatorback's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
220 views

Can a UK employer legally require someone to stay home if they pose a significant risk of harm to others?

I'm thinking of this in the context of the current debate about coronavirus vaccine certificates, but I think the question is wider and I don't want to limit it to just that. Suppose an existing long ...
Stilez's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
377 views

Do Americans have a constitutional right to decline being tested for COVID-19?

I am wondering if Americans have a constitutional right to decline being tested for the COVID-19 virus. Consider a scenario in which the state police create a checkpoint on an interstate highway and ...
user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
134 views

Is the New Jersey quarantine rule a legal requirement or merely a recommendation?

According to the official New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub as of March 8, 2021 (emphasis in original), Travelers and residents returning from any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate ...
Robert Columbia's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
84 views

Can someone face legal consequences for infecting someone else with COVID due to not following COVID regulations?

Jurisdiction is Belgium. Suppose a college student goes to an illegal student party and catches COVID there. He doesn't get caught by the police, he has no symptoms and he then doesn't self-isolate ...
Nzall's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
95 views

Are businesses required to let all shareholders attend their offline shareholder meetings?

Cover Corporation is a Japanese media company managing content creators which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as of March 27, 2023. They held a shareholder meeting at June 29th, 2023. It was ...
mkm49573's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

What happens when a state loses so many people that they *have* to give up a house seat and electoral college vote? Who becomes the unlucky loser?

How does one determine who gets "fired" after a mass exodus or catastrophic event that leads to the departure or death of a sizeable portion of people in states that have several ...
WrapItUp87's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Break lease agreement due to COVID-19

The mom holds B-1 visa (business visitor), can only legally stays in the USA one-half year. So the mom has to travel back and forth from the USA and her home country to get a new visa every half year ...
happycc wudi's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
632 views

"Discrimination" due to COVID-19 Certificate requirements

Many European countries issue COVID-19 Certificates (with varying names), that indicate whether a person is vaccinated, has recovered or has been tested. Access to some locations (restaurants, cinemas,...
PMF's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
183 views

Can I sue a publication for using my picture in an unflattering light?

I was walking down the street with my boyfriend a photographer asked if he could take a picture of us. We agreed and he snapped the photo and left. No consent forms were signed. Now the photo is being ...
just_wondering's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
771 views

Are You Allowed to Buy Groceries While in Self Quarantine? [Canada]

Canadians returning to Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Does this mean that these people must stay in their homes, and are not allowed to leave to buy groceries? The government ...
Jon K's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
566 views

Tenant lost the job because of covid-19 and unable to pay the rent. Now what?

I own a condo apartment in Schaumburg Illinois. The tenant has lost her job because of COVID-2019 and is unable to pay the rent. I however have to pay the monthly installments as mortgage for this ...
user979189's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
115 views

Has anyone ever been fined for not wearing a mask in California?

California has a statewide mask order. I wonder if anyone has ever been fined for violating it?
MWB's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
108 views

Los Angeles Covid, turn off electricity at party residences

I am researching the COVID 2020 lockdowns in Los Angeles, where mayor turned off the electricity, for people who have parties and social gatherings. Did they have court trials proceedings before ...
mattsmith5's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
144 views

Under the England and Wales Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, can a police officer enter a house without a warrant?

Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 As the title asks. It's such intense legalese that I can't get my head around it!
Ilya Grushevskiy's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
151 views

Can an employer require employees to be COVID-19 tested at their own expense?

In this case, the employer is a medium-sized ENT office. Some employees are young single mothers who don't have the resources to comply with this. The question also applies to non-medical employers, ...
Knoblock's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
134 views

Reclaim hotel costs from landlord

I was renting a room from a live-in landlord. My girlfriend came from Japan to stay with me for a few weeks. While she was here, the landlord asked for an extra €100 per week while she was here to ...
Ger's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
155 views

Can employer ask about medical information such as vaccines (not specifically COVID19)?

Regarding employers asking for proof of COVID19 vaccination, my friend argued this is illegal because they aren't allowed to ask for other medical information (such as vaccination against Hepatitis C) ...
JoyStaceyNaybor's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
197 views

When can a customer be denied service for not wearing a (COVID) mask, considering medical exceptions?

I work in a retail liquor store. We require customers to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID19. Technically speaking is wearing masks a law, a health order or the store policy as a result of the ...
casablancaeggplant's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
252 views

Future resident, not prospective resident, schedules walkthrough of my apartment, is this legal?

Today my landlord informed me that that next year’s resident has scheduled an appointment to tour the apartment for Thursday May 28th, 2020 at 12:00pm emphasis added by me. Here is the quote ...
Cody Aldaz's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
185 views

What does COVID-19 have to do with Live Audio at SCOTUS

The US Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments during Corona virus pandemic over teleconference. This is to comply with social distancing and prevent the spread of the disease. But why are they ...
Naftali Tzvi's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
105 views

Contradiction in UK law respect to PCR tests

In the regulations updated on November 30th, Scotland emits a document which explains some rules for entering the country, named regulation 14, from which I copy an extract: (9) The requirements of ...
mister nobody's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
161 views

How to force a UK company General Meeting to be held

Because of Covid-19 lockdown, the UK government passed emergency legislation in 2020 to allow companies to hold virtual general meetings and vote electronically. The Annual General Meeting is required ...
Weather Vane's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
84 views

In the US, have there been any successful lawsuits over COVID infection liability?

Its often been claimed during the pandemic that some businesses voluntarily mandate masks because they fear losing a lawsuit if an employee or customer gets infected on their premises. Since March ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
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