US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Tuesday for the humanitarian release of Americans unlawfully detained in Iran amidst growing concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iranian prisons. Pompeo warned that the US would hold Tehran responsible if any of the citizens died from COVID-19, stating “our response will be decisive.” Pompeo later alleged [...]

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the first part of a stimulus plan Wednesday meant to safeguard Australia’s public health and economy against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The plan, worth A $2.4 billion (USD $1.6 billion), proposes opening up to 100 respiratory and fever clinics as the latest demonstration of continued support [...]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a two-week quarantine in a county north of New York City Tuesday. New Rochelle, a city in Westchester County, will be the center of the quarantine after authorities confirmed 108 cases of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, in the county. This number of cases is the largest COVID-19 [...]

Iranian officials stated Monday that 70,000 prisoners have been released to combat the spread of the coronavirus within incarceration facilities. Last Wednesday, the government had announced the figure was 54,000. Iran has been one of the countries hit hardest by the outbreak of the coronavirus. As of Monday morning, Iran has more than 6,500 cases [...]

On Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet suggested that international authorities put human rights “front and centre” while combating the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. As the virus spreads, Bachelet called attention to the negative impact that containment efforts may have on peoples’ lives, noting that “people who are already barely surviving economically, [...]