11 February 2021
A report by the Omega Research Foundation on the use of chemical irritants by law enforcement agencies during the pandemic, which "may carry a heightened risk of causing unintentional adverse impacts" given that Sars-cov-2 is a respiratory illness.
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Report: Lowering the risk - Curtailing the use of chemical irritants during the COVID-19 pandemic (Omega Research Foundation, link):
"The Omega Research Foundation monitors the use of force by law enforcement officials worldwide. Omega has documented instances of law enforcement officials using chemical irritants to enforce COVID-19 related restrictions in at least 11 countries. The pandemic has also coincided with the global Black Lives Matter movement and other social protests, and widespread use of chemical irritants to disperse public gatherings has continued in many countries. There are ordinarily health risks associated with the use of chemical irritants, but their use during the pandemic may carry a heightened risk of causing unintentional adverse impacts. This Position Paper examines these additional risks, both in the context of public gatherings and in places of detention."
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