Healthcare & Policy News
Reporting on health care policy, insurance coverage, and federal health programs. Includes news updates and conservative commentary from The Daily Signal.
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- Opinion
How Oregon’s Governor Became the Latest Poster Child for COVID-19 Tyranny
America is officially eight months into what was said to be 15 days to slow the spread of COVID-19, and several states are now set to embark on a second round of extensive shutdowns. Standing out from the rest, the trio of Left Coast governors are apparently competing for the dubious distinction of “America’s Top Tyrant”—and Oregon’s…Jason Dudash -
- News
Gov. Whitmer Announces New Restrictions as Coronavirus Cases Surge
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new restrictions Sunday evening meant to combat the worsening coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions, which begin Wednesday and extend through the end of November, include the closing of high schools, colleges, indoor dining, casinos, and movie theaters, Whitmer said in a press conference Sunday. Michigan has recorded record amounts of virus cases…Andrew Trunsky -
- News
Moderna Announces Its Coronavirus Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective
The pharmaceutical company Moderna announced Monday that its coronavirus vaccine is 94.5% effective based on preliminary results from ongoing human trials. Though the company’s announcement is a big step in the effort to develop effective vaccines against the virus, Moderna said that its vaccine would not be widely available until spring 2021. Moderna is the second pharmaceutical to…Andrew Trunsky -
- Opinion
10 Counties With 21% of COVID-19 Deaths Have Just 11% of the Population
As Heritage Foundation researchers have demonstrated throughout the pandemic, the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has been heavily concentrated in a small number of states—and among a small number of counties within those states. In recent months, the number of new cases has been more geographically dispersed, but COVID-19 fatalities remain highly concentrated. >>> What’s the best way for America to reopen…Norbert Michel -
- Opinion
Biden Likely Would Issue Flurry of Executive Orders on Climate, Abortion, Immigration
The outcome of the 2020 presidential election continues to be hotly contested. But a transition of power from President Donald Trump to Joe Biden, if it happens, would have immediate and dramatic policy consequences. If Biden actually does win the presidential election, the former vice president likely will be faced with a divided legislative branch….Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Mayor Bill de Blasio Says New Yorkers Should Avoid ‘Big Meals Together’ as COVID-19 Cases Spike
Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s residents should avoid “large meals together” as the area experienced a recent uptick in coronavirus cases. “The holidays we associate with travel and the holidays we associate with big indoor gatherings, big meals together—that, unfortunately, this year can’t be the case,” de Blasio said…Jake Dima -
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Pfizer’s Coronavirus Vaccine Over 90% Effective, Company Says
A promising coronavirus vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, a German biotechnology firm, was over 90% effective compared to a placebo injection and did not produce any safety concerns, according to an analysis by a third-party data monitoring committee. “I would say it’s a historical moment,” said Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s head of vaccine research…Andrew Trunsky -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Restrictions on Schools, Businesses Drive State Jobless Rates
The unemployment rate dropped more than expected in October, to 6.9%—from 7.9% in September—as 638,000 jobs were added or regained. Moreover, the number of people reporting lost work (either reduced hours or none) because their employer closed or lost business due to the coronavirus pandemic plummeted by 4.3 million, to 15.1 million. While the unemployment…Rachel Greszler -
- Opinion
Jobless Rate Falls to 6.9% as Economy Adds 638,000 Jobs Despite Pandemic
The unemployment rate fell by 1 percentage point to 6.9% as the economy added 638,000 jobs in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. This incredibly strong report comes in well above expert predictions and signals that if states continue to safely reopen their economies and schools, we will continue to gain back the economic losses from COVID-19. In October, 2.2 million more Americans were employed compared to September,…Timothy Doescher -
- Opinion
The Science Is Not Settled on COVID-19 Guidelines
Dr. David Nabarro, a special envoy of the World Health Organization on the coronavirus pandemic, recently warned that lockdowns should “not be used [as] a primary means of control of [COVID-19]. The only time [they are] justified is to buy you time to reorganize, regroup, and rebalance your resources.” State officials, such as those in…Amy Anderson -
- Opinion
Trump v. Biden: 2 Candidates, 2 Starkly Divergent Stances on Abortion
The Republican and Democratic nominees for president couldn’t differ more in their approach to the issue of abortion. Depending on which candidate emerges victorious, in the weeks to come, the landscape of abortion policy in the United States will look dramatically different. President Donald Trump has committed to pursuing policies that protect unborn human life….Melanie Israel -
- News
COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Safe, Operation Warp Speed Leaders Vow
The chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, the federal government’s project to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, said Tuesday he thinks about his own family in giving his assurances that any such vaccine will be safe. “Nobody in this organization, in this task force, is going to allow a vaccine to go out to the…Fred Lucas -
- News
YouTube, Vimeo Remove Conservative Entrepreneur’s COVID-19 Video
The online video platforms YouTube and Vimeo have censored a video of “The Bill Walton Show” about the danger of COVID-19 shutdowns for violating standards enforced by each company. YouTube removed the 47-minute video of the program in which Walton interviews Jay Richards, one of three authors of the book “The Price of Panic: How…Virginia Allen -
- News
Vaccine Expected to Be Ready for Vulnerable Population by January, HHS Secretary Says
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Wednesday that he expects a coronavirus vaccine to be available for vulnerable Americans by January 2021. The Health and Human Services secretary said vaccines will be immediately offered to seniors, health care workers, and first responders once hospitals are able to administer them, according to The…Thomas Catenacci -
- News
Pandemic Has Led to ‘National Mental Health Crisis,’ APA Survey Finds
The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to an alarming “national mental health crisis,” according to an American Psychological Association report. The American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America” report highlighted the results of a survey that the organization conducted. The results, which showed the coronavirus pandemic is having an outsized effect on Americans’ mental health, have caused the…Thomas Catenacci -
- Opinion
In Staying Closed, Schools Ignore Low COVID-19 Rates, Needs of Families
At what would normally be the end of the first academic quarter for most K-12 schools, millions of students still have not set foot in a classroom. Many haven’t done so since March. Evidence continues to mount that COVID-19 affects children the least, and ad hoc school district e-learning platforms, hastily assembled in the spring,…Jonathan Butcher -
- Opinion
Government Officials and Federal Judges Both Need to Be Reminded That There’s No ‘Pandemic Exception’ to the Constitution
Like Alice in Wonderland, it feels like we’re living in an upside-down world. Except now it is Alice in “Pandemicland.” Government officials have been forced to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19, some in a good way, but too many in a bad way. Unfortunately, even those who mean well need to be reminded…Zack Smith -
- Opinion
10 Counties With Most COVID-19 Deaths Account for 22% of Fatalities but 11% of Population
As Heritage Foundation researchers have demonstrated throughout the pandemic, the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has been heavily concentrated in a small number of states—and among a small number of counties within those states. Heritage’s interactive graphic allows individuals to see more detail on these concentrations of COVID-19 among the counties with the most deaths as well as those with the fewest. For instance,…Drew Gonshorowski -
- Opinion
Here We Go Again: Cuomo, de Blasio Blame Jews for Jump in COVID-19 Cases
Each year during the Jewish religious festival of Sukkot, New York City shuts down Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights to allow thousands of local residents the opportunity to safely celebrate in dance and song. But this past week—under the guise of fighting COVID-19—New York City attempted to shut down this religious gathering by using physical…Joel Griffith -
- Opinion
The Government’s Unfair Treatment of Churches During COVID Pandemic
Since the onset of the pandemic, churches around the country have had to make tough choices. Although suspending in-person gatherings was not an easy decision, an overwhelming percentage of churches closed their doors and reverted to virtual and online ministry. However, as the pandemic wore on and authorities began loosening restrictions on in-person meetings, churches—like restaurants, retail…David Closson