The Canadian legislature passed emergency legislation on Wednesday that will allow the Minister of Health to circumvent patent laws for supplies that are necessary to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill requires payment of renumeration for the patentees in the “amount that the Commissioner considers to be adequate renumeration in the circumstances.” “These [...]
The Singapore Ministry of Health enacted stay-at-home and social distancing regulations on Thursday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The penalty for violating the regulations is a fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to six months or both. All travelers coming back to Singapore, including citizens and permanent residents, will have to go into quarantine for [...]
China announced on Thursday that foreign nationals will be suspended from entering China beginning March 28 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary suspension includes those holding visas or residency permits still valid at the time of suspension. In the announcement, China stated: The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take [...]
US Attorney General William Barr directed the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to use home confinement for inmates currently held in jail or prison when appropriate in response to an increase of COVID-19 cases among prison populations on Thursday. Any inmates released on home confinement will be under 14-day quarantine. The move is intended to slow [...]
The Supreme Court of Israel ruled that Israel’s Parliament must elect a new speaker Thursday after Yuli Edelstein, speaker and ally to the Prime Minister, resigned on Wednesday over a disagreement with the legislative decisions of Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic. Edelstein raised concerns with the operation of the Supreme Court, stating that democracy could [...]
A unanimous Senate vote Wednesday approved a historic $2 trillion stimulus package to try to keep the US economy afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would provide direct payments of $1,200 to Americans earning up to $75,000, phasing out for higher earners and ending for those earning more than $99,000. It includes for families [...]
Texas abortion providers filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas Wednesday, challenging the legality of an executive order that they claim bans all abortions in the state. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued the order on Sunday. It is designed to increase medical resources to combat the Covid-19 pandemic [...]
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday postponed the national referendum that was scheduled for April 22 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The national referendum concerned constitutional amendments, one of which would enable Putin to run for two more terms. Putin did not announce a new date for the referendum but indicated it will depend on [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Michael Cohen’s request for early release from prison Tuesday due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohen is currently serving a 36-month sentence for various financial crimes, including campaign fraud and making false statements to Congress. He asked that the [...]
As part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on governments on Wednesday to take “urgent action” to protect the health and safety of people in detention and other closed facilities. Bachelet stated: Governments are facing huge demands on resources in this crisis and are having [...]
