The outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted the world’s economy. As already known, the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it soon spread to other countries of the world, with many international travel hubs like London and New York being badly hit.
This necessitated various preventive measures like travel bans, border closures and quarantine measures. Many workers cannot move to their places of work or carry out their jobs, which has tremendous effects on incomes, particularly for informal and casually employed workers. Consumers in many economies are unable or reluctant to purchase goods and services. Given the current environment of uncertainty and fear, many enterprises, especially those deemed non-essential, are compelled to delay investments, purchasing of goods and the delivery of goods and services.
The pandemic, as well as emergency measures imposed by various governments to check its spread, has made it impossible or impracticable for many parties to perform their contractual obligations. A common question in the wake of the pandemic will thus be whether the pandemic should serve to release a party from their contractual obligations. ...............
