Overview
Public health plays a leading role in preventing and controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus. To effectively coordinate response efforts while protecting the public’s health, health officials must share certain COVID-19 health information with first responders, law enforcement and others. Public health also has an important role in sharing information with the public to inform as to risks, advocate actions and allay concerns. The Iowa Department of Justice provides guidance regarding legal issues arising during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health related FAQs. Several of the FAQs relate to data sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While there are variations among state law, there are also a lot of similarities, making these resources very useful to practicing public health attorneys. As other jurisdiction agency counsel create resources for their states, these resources could prove useful to them.
