Abstract Liberty versus security debate is again at the forefront and staring in our eyes. This dimension of security studies where we find certain countries like Iran who are battling COVID-19 with all their might and that the virus is threating their sovereignty and their overall existence is a cause of concern. There is no question that citizens have willingly accepted more surveillance and submitted more data to the state, but the question remains whether the state will relent after the outbreak of the COVID-19 is over and whether the State should retreat back to its normal positioning and resort back to Westphalian epitome? State now onwards will require more data and shall collect/collate more information from the citizens. Whether the Post COVID-19 world shall see more challenges and opportunities for the governments and assuming their rhetoric will be at an all-time high—both will be a big challenge for citizenry to face. The biological warfare that has unfolded shrouded with ‘conspiracy theory’ tag has begun to reshape the Westphalian foundations.