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 Close Is US to Herd Immunity for COVID-19? What the Numbers Show
There has been considerable interest lately in Sweden’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Sweden’s top epidemiologist, Dr. Anders Tegnell, Sweden is expected to achieve herd immunity in several weeks’ time. Sweden pursued a much more relaxed mitigation strategy, practicing social distancing while avoiding a national lockdown, and approximately 20% of Swedes may have…Kevin Pham -
- Opinion
Here’s Why Development of a Vaccine Takes So Long
As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House has warned time and time again that a vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 virus won’t be available for another 12 to 18 months. In a crisis, that sounds like forever. >>> When can America reopen? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation,…Peter Brookes -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: AG Barr Directs Federal Prosecutors to Protect ‘Civil Liberties’ During COVID-19
Attorney General William Barr on Monday directed U.S. attorneys to “be on the lookout” for state and local governments violating constitutional rights of individuals during the strict COVID-19 restrictions at the state and local level. “Many policies that would be unthinkable in regular times have become commonplace in recent weeks, and we do not want…Fred Lucas -
- News
In Tweet, Chinese Government Suggests US Is ‘Hiding’ Information on COVID-19
The Chinese government’s Foreign Ministry portrayed China as the victim of coronavirus disinformation on Monday, before suggesting minutes later that the U.S. government is “hiding something” regarding the pandemic. “China always stands against disinformation campaign. We are victim rather than producer of disinformation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry wrote from its Twitter account. The account then suggested without…Chuck Ross -
- Opinion
America’s Uncomfortable but Unavoidable COVID-19 Choices Ahead
America is a free society, and in a free society, the exercise of personal choice is dependent upon both the opportunity to make choices and the ability to take responsibility for the choices we make. Choice and responsibility are conceptually inseparable. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is another fundamental truth: We are…Daniel H. Johnson Jr. -
- Opinion
Lives and Livelihoods Are Inseparable, Should Be Addressed as Such, Coronavirus Recovery Panel Says
The COVID-19 pandemic that has reached every corner of America presents policymakers with a vastly complicated problem that will require a diverse and tailored approach. Any solution to reopening the country will need to deal with a great variety of locales, as well as to engage with multiple levels of government. To that end, The…Kevin Pham -
- Opinion
How Pentagon Is Protecting Defense Supply Chains From COVID-19
The coronavirus is causing disruption across all sectors of the economy, and the defense industrial base is no exception. To minimize the impact on military readiness, the Department of Defense is trying to mitigate threats to the supply chains that feed the defense industry—whether those sources are in the U.S. or overseas. The defense industrial…Maiya Clark -
- Opinion
How COVID-19 Could Change the Political Future of Europe
The coronavirus has left many European leaders questioning the future of the EU. Former Prime Minister of Italy Enrico Letta recently told The Guardian that “the communitarian spirit of Europe is weaker today than 10 years ago.” Nile Gardiner, former adviser to Margaret Thatcher and director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Testing and the Way Forward on Resuming Non-Urgent Medical Care
America’s coronavirus testing rates have emerged as one of the enduring issues with the government’s response to the pandemic. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s initial missteps in February, resulting in faulty tests that were slow to run, the Trump administration pushed the Food and Drug Administration to grant numerous emergency use authorizations…Kevin Pham -
- Opinion
China Is Working Overtime to Suppress Research About Coronavirus Origin
The lesson of history for tyrannical regimes is that the truth is dangerous. Clearly, the Chinese Communist Party knows this full well, which is why it’s working overtime to bury the truth as the world is mired in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. China has worked aggressively to suppress critical media and waged a widespread disinformation…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
FDA Approves Home COVID-19 Test, Is Overseeing 72 Trials of Treatments
The Food and Drug Administration has ongoing clinical trials for 72 drugs to treat COVID-19, therapeutics that aren’t a cure, but which will treat the symptoms of the disease, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn announced Friday. “When it comes to therapeutics, we are leaving no stone unturned in finding treatments for COVID-19,” Hahn said at…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
World Abortion Leaders Exploit Virus to Push Abortion
As part of its COVID-19 response, the World Health Organization has declared abortion as an essential service. The U.K. has now issued temporary approval for chemical abortions to be completely done at home. The U.S. abortion lobby continues to call for the Food and Drug Administration to lift restrictions (REMs) off the abortion pill (U.S. brand “Mifeprex”), making way for complete…Patrina Mosley -
- Opinion
How Congress Can Unleash Americans’ Generosity to Tackle COVID-19 Crisis
Americans are extraordinarily generous, especially during times of crisis. One of the best ways government can tackle the coronavirus crisis is to let Americans give more of their own money directly to charities. This capitalizes on the fact that humanitarianism is going local to be more effective. Travel restrictions and shutdowns worldwide are creating secondary…Wendy Wright -
- News
DHS Study Shows Potential of Heat, Humidity to Kill Coronavirus
A new Department of Homeland Security study shows that heat, humidity, and sunlight could help to kill the coronavirus, offering a potential literal ray of hope against the pandemic as summer nears. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus both [on] surfaces…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Flawed Models Show Why COVID-19 Policies Must Consider Total Mortality
Policymakers need to scrutinize their epidemiological models. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has been heavily influenced by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation’s computer model, which has projected from 60,000 to 240,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. This epidemiological model is now being criticized as flawed and misleading as a…James Enstrom -
- Opinion
Coronavirus Pandemic Renews American Sense of Citizenship and Community
When the nongovernmental National Coronavirus Recovery Commission was first formed in early April, commissioners requested that citizens submit comments and ideas to help it formulate recommendations that governments, businesses, and civil society could use to combat both the health and economic effects of COVID-19. Those comments have provided some critical insights into how Americans feel about America’s…Kay C. James -
- Opinion
Pandemic Only 1 of America’s Security Concerns
The world was a dangerous place before—and will be after—the coronavirus pandemic. While Americans debate the proper ongoing response to the virus and argue over the infection’s origins, nature, and trajectory, they may have tuned out other, often just as scary, news. Many Americans are irate at China for its dishonest and lethal suppression of…Victor Davis Hanson -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Is Helping the Environment. But at What Cost?
Earth Day turns 50 this year, but don’t expect to see any large gatherings. The coronavirus pandemic has turned the 2020 celebration into a virtual one. According to some observers, though, that’s a good thing. One silver lining of COVID-19, they point out, is a healthier environment. Without a doubt, quarantining is yielding environmental improvements….Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Keeping Our Distance in the New Normal of Coronavirus
Public health officials advising governments here and abroad on the COVID-19 pandemic so far have offered shifting and tentative guidance on when and how to unwind the practice of social distancing. Asked recently when the U.S. could return to normal, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, suggested…Doug Badger -
- News
On COVID-19 Recovery Panel, George Allen Navigates Another Worst-Case Scenario
Hurricane Felix appeared headed toward Virginia Beach, with some computer models showing it could whack the area with wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour and up to 10 inches of rain. Gov. George Allen had a choice to make. “All the emergency management people were saying we need a mandatory evacuation,” Allen, now a…Fred Lucas