key: cord-0048198-j1l9241s
authors: Van den Eynde, Vincent
title: COVID-19 and Civilian Hoarding of Medical Masks: Time for Legal Measures
date: 2020-05-22
journal: J Glob Infect Dis
DOI: 10.4103/jgid.jgid_46_20
sha: 5a5dfc4052225fa9ad9bf955ff32d6ab62be2a4d
doc_id: 48198
cord_uid: j1l9241s

nan

As a prime example of panic-driven, reasonably unreasonable conduct, civilian hoarding may indeed be counteracted to some important extent by repeatedly invoking "positive peer pressure" through various social awareness campaigns, but uniform enactment is all but guaranteed, and significant social impunity looms.

For this reason, I believe that the time is now or never for governments to consider the adoption of temporary legal measures -provided such is permissible within the parameters of constitutional and/or international law safeguards -which limit the public use of medical masks to healthcare professionals on duty.

Following enactment, transgressions must be penalized, predictably and foreseeably -as well as swiftly and appreciably -to ensure sufficient dissuasive effect.

Post-acceptance update (29 April 2020): This paper addresses considerations on the optimal allocation of scarce goods in a high-pressure context that is by nature rapidly evolving; it is therefore prudent to note that policy and law are apt to change as pragmatic constraints lessen. For this reason, I wish to add in conclusion that, as public life gradually resumes, the mandatory use of face masks (medical-grade or not) in certain locations may prove vital in curbing the coronavirus pandemic; some countries have indeed enacted laws to this effect. I wish to encourage strict adherence to said laws.

Master of Law (University of Antwerp) Independent researcher; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8250-0054 E-mail: vandeneyndev@outlook.com

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COVID-19 and Civilian Hoarding of Medical Masks: Time for Legal Measures