Abstract The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is placing unprecedented stress on public-private partnerships (PPPs), creating the real possibility of widespread project failures. The disruption and potential collapse of multiple PPP projects will likely trigger force majeure contractual provisions, but the applicability and efficacy of these generic catch-all clauses remain in question. This critical note therefore discusses the implications of force majeure contractual conditions on PPPs in the COVID-19 epoch. We first define the concept of force majeure as it pertains to pandemics. Next, we review a select number of international policies for such events, outlining their key features and glaring shortcomings. Then, we use Novia Scotia’s Highway 104 Twinning Project as an illustrative case example of improved force majeure risk management. Finally, after reflecting on the three ironies of construction crisis management, we outline the need for swift trust in PPPs during this current pandemic and conclude by calling for a comprehensive revision of force majeure contract provisions.

中文翻译：

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大流行，公私伙伴关系（PPP）和不可抗力| COVID-19的期望和影响

摘要新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）大流行给公私合作伙伴关系（PPP）带来了前所未有的压力，从而造成了广泛的项目失败的真正可能性。多个PPP项目的破坏和潜在崩溃可能会触发不可抗力的合同条款，但这些通用的通用条款的适用性和有效性仍存在疑问。因此，本批注解讨论了不可抗力合同条件对COVID-19时代PPP的影响。我们首先定义与大流行有关的不可抗力的概念。接下来，我们回顾一些针对此类事件的国际政策，概述其主要特征和明显的缺点。然后，我们以Novia Scotia的104号高速公路孪生项目为例，说明改进的不可抗力风险管理。