31 January 2020 – Public health emergency declared

Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Finance/Economy, Health, Social Services, Supply Chains
Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; Declaring state of emergency
Level of Jurisdiction: Federal
Lead People/Agency: HHS

Overview: HHS Secretary Azar Declares Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Full details here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/01/31/secretary-azar-declares-public-health-emergency-us-2019-novel-coronavirus.html

Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Learning from other jurisdictions, Perception of an increased threat
Source of Evidence or Justification: World Health Organisation, National – government
Evidence/Justification: This U.S. public health emergency declaration follows a declaration by the World Health Organization that spread of the virus constituted a public health emergency of international concern.