Журнал. World association for medical law. The COVID-19 pandemic. Volume 39 2

355 Medicine and Law maintaining, where possible, individual liberties. The decision to initiate restrictions of movement, other freedoms and ultimately lockdown is one that has not been taken lightly. These freedoms must be balanced with the right to life which is protected by Article 2 of the Convention of Human Rights. This places a positive obligation on the government to take action to protect against infectious diseases. While the right to life is not absolute, it does impose very strong obligations on the state from taking life, except when it is absolutely necessary. Public health crises highlight stark tensions between liberal values, such as autonomy, liberty and privacy which underpin government rights and responsibilities in the UK and the drive to contain infectious disease. 5 As recognised by Coggon, it is important that we understand what liberty means. It can either be the freedom to be left alone, to do what we please as long as it harms no one else, or the value we place on liberty could require it to be understood to be ‘resting alongside other important values, such as autonomy, community, equity, health, family and friendship, fulfilment and other aspects of flourishing, welfare and well-being.’ 6 To be able to benefit from liberty, there has to be a recognition of the rights of others. On the 24 th March, Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, declared the COVID-19 outbreak a ‘moment of national emergency.’ Measures were introduced to respond vigorously to ‘protect the NHS’s [National Health Service’s] ability to cope - and save more lives.’ Effective lockdown was introduced across the UK with the public only being able to leave their houses for one form of daily exercise and essential shopping, gatherings of more than two people were banned and all shops selling non-essential goods, churches, playgrounds and libraries were also to be closed from that point. Initial Efforts to slow Disease Progression The lockdown represented a significant turn in the measures introduced to protect against the virus and marked a dramatic escalation in policy. The UK government introduced the Coronavirus (COVID-19) action plan, on the 3 rd 5 Viens, A.M., (2016). Public Health and Political Theory: The Importance of Taming Individualism. Public Health Ethics 9. 6 Coggon, J. (2020). Beyond liberty: social values and public health ethics in responses to COVID-19, University of Bristol Law School Blog available at: https://legalresearch. blogs.bris.ac.uk/2020/04/beyond-liberty-social-values-and-public-health-ethics-in- responses-to-Covid-19/ (Accessed: 17/04/2020)