The use of restrictive and physical distancing measures during a pandemic raises a number of important ethical issues. This publication of WHO’s COVID-19 ethics working group is available at the site of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Ethics Network (PHEPREN): https://epidemicethics.tghn.org/articles/ethics-sars-cov-2-restrictive-measures-and-physical-distancing/.

The document has been developed on the basis of WHO’s Guidance For Managing Ethical Issues In Infectious Disease Outbreaks (available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/250580/9789241549837-eng.pdf?sequence=1). The document can be accessed directly at: https://media.tghn.org/articles/Ethics__COVID-19__Restrictive_Measures_-_Apr_14.pdf).