Legal measures taken to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in Algeria

Abstract

The danger of coronaviruses lies in their ease of transmission, which greatly increases the risk of severe respiratory infections. This pandemic, which affected the entire world, required the implementation of initial measures, most of which were taken in the absence of any legal framework. The fear and confusion caused worldwide by the rapid spread of this virus led the political authorities in Algeria to announce a lockdown, followed by the declaration of a public health emergency.

As a result, the competent authorities adopted a series of measures to combat the coronavirus, with the aim of limiting its spread and effectively managing the crisis. These measures ranged from the criminalisation of certain behaviours to the restriction of certain freedoms, in particular freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and economic freedom, in order to adapt to the situation and protect public health.