Network Report Thursday, July 2, 2020 
As the nation races to contain the spread of COVID-19, we must protect our voting systems and ensure that everyone can safely and securely vote throughout the remaining 2020 election cycle. The Network has signed on to an Open Letter to Protect Vulnerable Populations During the 2020 Elections – we encourage readers to share this letter. Learn more.
The Navajo Nation Responds to COVID-19 The Navajo Nation has a long history of having morbidity and mortality rates that are much higher than the rest of the nation due to systemic oppression, underfunding by the Federal government, and lack of resources. In light of these factors, it should come as no surprise that the Navajo Nation is suffering extensively due to COVID-19 as compared to other parts of the U.S. 
Public health officials must frequently make difficult decisions that require balancing the public’s health with individual rights and preferences. An example of this challenge emerged late last summer as Michigan and Massachusetts responded to Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus disease outbreaks. They used differing legal approaches to managing the tension between individual rights and the public good. 
COVID-19 Pandemic and Tobacco Sales in the United States COVID-19 has unquestionably altered every facet of daily life, including where and how goods are purchased. For those who use tobacco products, including vape products, a patchwork of state laws continues to determine where these products may be sold because of orders classifying businesses as essential and non-essential.
Resources: State-Level COVID-19 Liability Protections Liability protections for health care workers (HCWs) are a consistent facet of emergency declarations and response at the federal and state levels. State liability protections vary in breadth and scope, but do not typically explicitly address liability protections for HCWs. In response to COVID-19, states are extending liability protections for physicians and other HCWs in manifold ways. This resource notes which states have issued supplementary executive orders to provide immunity.
COVID-19: Vulnerable Populations and Palliative Care: Call for Social Justice July 9 | 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET Join us for a discussion of the impact of the pandemic upon diverse vulnerable populations, including Black/African Americans and Latinx, persons with disabilities, immigrants, persons who are incarcerated, older adults, nursing home residents, and persons who are homeless. The central role of palliative care across all systems, a trauma-informed perspective in working with those affected by the pandemic, as well as the critical importance of workforce education and training will be addressed. 
COVID-19: Protecting Voter Health and Participation in the 2020 Elections July 16 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET As states respond to the threat of COVID-19, they must consider ways to educate voters about changes and ensure that everyone can safely and securely vote in the 2020 election cycle. Join us to learn more about the challenges and solutions to the voting process in the midst of the pandemic, including legal barriers to turnout, election protection, and mitigating the public health risks. This webinar will also identify key policy interventions states are considering to protect the right to vote.
Worth Sharing: The COVID-19 Pandemic Shows Why We Must—And How We Can—End Racial Injustice in Health In this op-ed piece published in Time, Howard K. Koh, professor of the practice of public health leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School, and member of the Network’s Advisory Board, shares four concrete actions we can take to address health disparities during COVID-19. How Many Uninsured Adults Could Be Reached If All States Expanded Medicaid? This analysis by KKF estimates how many uninsured adults—including those uninsured even before the pandemic and those who could become uninsured as a result of it— could become eligible for Medicaid if states that have not yet expanded the program do so. This map from The Policy Surveillance Program at the Center for Public Health Research at Temple University identifies and displays key features of state, county, and city-level laws governing the residential eviction process in 40 U.S. cities — the 10 largest cities in the four Census regions — in effect as of August 1, 2018.
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Thank you! Your interest in the work of the Network is important. Together, we can advance law as a tool to improve public health. Please forward the Network Report and encourage others to join the Network! The Network for Public Health Law provides information and technical assistance on issues related to public health. The legal information and assistance provided in this document does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. For legal advice, readers should consult a lawyer in their state.
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