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Legal Sidebari

Legal Issues Related to the COVID-19
Outbreak: An Overview
Updated May 1, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak has rapidly shifted the congressional agenda in recent weeks, while altering the
daily lives of millions of American residents. Alongside the many medical, economic, social, and public
policy questions raised by the pandemic are a range of legal issues. These include both short-term legal
questions related to the unfolding outbreak as well as longer-term legal issues that are anticipated to
persist in the wake of the crisis. Among the most immediate questions are those related to the scope of
state and federal authorities concerning quarantine measures, travel and entry restrictions, the movement
of medical goods, health care coverage, and the like. Of more ongoing concern may be legal issues
ranging from those related to the development of vaccines, testing, treatments, and other medical
countermeasures, to postponing national elections, to civil liability for COVID-19 exposure, to criminal
actions related to hoarding and price gouging, to providing economic assistance to individuals and
businesses, to foreclosure, eviction, and debt collection moratoria.
This Legal Sidebar provides a list of legal resources discussing these and other legal topics related to the
COVID-19 pandemic. It will be updated intermittently as additional legal issues emerge.
Health Care, Health Coverage, and Medical Countermeasures
Quarantine, Travel Restrictions, and Social Distancing
Critical Goods, Procurement, and Government Contracts
Economic and Employment Issues
Public Rights and Services
Criminal Matters

Health Care, Health Coverage, and Medical Countermeasures
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10436, COVID-19: International Trade and Access to Pharmaceutical Products,
by Nina M. Hart.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
LSB10433
CRS Legal Sidebar
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

Congressional Research Service
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CRS Insight IN11320, CARES Act Eviction Moratorium, by Maggie McCarty and David H. Carpenter.
CRS In Focus IF11500, The CARES Act: Implications for Tribes, by Mainon A. Schwartz.
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10434, COVID-19 Response: Constitutional Protections for Private Property, by
Sean M. Stiff.
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10435, The Federal Reserve’s Legal Authorities for Responding to the Economic
Impacts of COVID-19, by Jay B. Sykes.
Public Rights and Services
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10447, Constitutional Considerations of Remote Voting In Congress, by Todd
Garvey.
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10437, The Courts and COVID-19, by Joanna R. Lampe.
CRS Insight IN11344, The Federal Judiciary and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(“CARES Act”), by Joanna R. Lampe and Barry J. McMillion.
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10425, Postponing Federal Elections and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Legal
Considerations, by Jacob D. Shelly.
Criminal Matters
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10446, An Overview of Federal Criminal Laws Implicated by the COVID-19
Pandemic, by Peter G. Berris.
CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10449, COVID-19, Digital Surveillance, and Privacy: Fourth Amendment
Considerations, by Michael A. Foster.
CRS Report R46297, Federal Prisoners and COVID-19: Background and Authorities to Grant Release,
by Nathan James and Michael A. Foster.

Author Information

Caitlain Devereaux Lewis, Coordinator

Section Research Manager

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of

Congressional Research Service
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Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

LSB10433 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED