‘Public health emergency of international concern’ and pandemic The World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 a pandemic representing a worldwide spread of the new disease. The largest number of cases have been in China, where it was first detected with 81,000 cases, followed by Italy, Iran and Republic of Korea, with between 8,000 and 24,000 cases respectively. States have responded to WHO’s call for actions to take urgent measures to prevent the disease spreading further in varying forms. Drastic measures have seen cities in China and in the case of Italy, the whole country, on ‘lock down’ – entailing restrictions on movement. Since 12 March 2020, many governments have followed suit with a number of measures from a halt to gatherings of over 1,000 people, holding people in isolation after returning from affected areas or calling for people to self-isolate themselves, as well as cancelling flights and closing borders. COVID-19 in prisons: cases and responses To-date two countries have confirmed cases of COVID-19 in places of detention. Many more announced moves to prevent people detained or personnel working within such facilities contracting or spreading the disease. prevent outbreaks. To be released, one had to test negative for COVID-19 and post bail, and priority was reportedly given to people with underlying health issues.3 It is uncertain how much bail was in such cases. In China more than 500 cases were confirmed in prisons. Officials said that they had set up a specialist hospital and organised inspection teams to prisons for testing. The governor of the female prison in Rencheng (where 230 cases were confirmed) was dismissed. In the province of Shandong a further five officials and the party secretary for the province’s department of justice were removed.1 The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran criticised the government for not releasing political prisoners, and limiting the people released to those with less than fiveyear sentences thus excluding many imprisoned for sentences linked to their participation in protests. He noted: ‘A number of dual and foreign nationals are at real risk if they have not … got it [coronavirus] they are really fearful of the conditions.’ In an earlier statement the Special Rapporteur had pointed out that ‘overcrowding, poor nutrition and a lack of hygiene’ were serious concerns, indicating a high risk to prisoners’ health.4 There are some reports that at least eight people in several of Iran’s prisons have contracted COVID-19.2 The government announced that they have temporarily released 70,000 people from prison to ‘China finds spike in coronavirus cases in jails, officials fired’, 21 February 2020, available at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-healthjails/china-finds-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-in-jailsofficials-fired-idUSKBN20F0GR. 2‘ Political Prisoners Excluded from Mass Release as COVID-19 Spreads’, 6 March 2020, available at https://iranhumanrights.org/2020/03/politicalprisoners-excluded-from-mass-release-as-more-inmatesexhibit-covid-19-symptoms/. 1 ‘Coronavirus: Iran temporarily frees 54,000 prisoners to combat spread’, 3 March 2020, available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51723398. 4 ‘UN urges Iran to free political prisoners amid coronavirus spread’, 10 March 2020, available at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/urges-iran-freepolitical-prisoners-coronavirus-spread200310184750920.html. 3 Page 3 of 13 www.penalreform.org