Perspectives: Whoa, California — Why The Sudden Rush To Reopen?; Pharma Industry Has Rescued Democrats

San Francisco Chronicle: Feeling Whiplash, California? The Ever-Revolving COVID Rules
Californians' difficult sacrifices have turned around the latest surge of coronavirus infections, so it’s time for a cautious return to strictly necessary activities like — baseball? Gov. Gavin Newsom recently expressed “all the confidence in the world” that fans will be watching Major League Baseball in person next month, typifying the whiplash reversals and re-reversals that have haunted the state’s response to the pandemic. In scarcely over a month, we’ve gone from closing everything to Opening Day. (3/4)

Boston Globe: Massachusetts Should Pay People To Quarantine
With vaccines slowly being rolled out across the United States, it appears the nation may be close to a turning point in the coronavirus pandemic. However, the daily case rate remains high, and new, highly contagious variants threaten to create clusters of fresh infections in the coming months. This makes it more important than ever that states bolster non-vaccine strategies — specifically, supported quarantine and isolation — in order to mitigate viral transmission. Apart from vaccinations, quarantine (keeping exposed people away from others) and isolation (keeping sick people away from others) are the best ways to stop transmission of the virus. After a surge of infections early in the pandemic, South Korea adopted an aggressive policy of testing, contact tracing, and “supported” isolation and quarantine. This included identifying those exposed to the virus and providing support services so that it was feasible and affordable for them to stay apart for seven to 10 days. The government delivered grocery supplies and paid financial compensation to those in isolation and unable to work. They provided people who needed it access to quarantine facilities, with twice-daily check-ins to monitor their health. (Linda J. Bilmes and Margaret Bourdeaux, 3/3)

Stat: Use The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine To Create Equity, Trust 
The Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States is wonderful and welcome news. Its addition dramatically increases the likelihood that all adults will have a chance to be vaccinated before this summer — but only if people are willing to accept any of the three available vaccines. That will happen only if people trust that the different vaccines are being distributed fairly. (Ruth R. Faden and Ruth A. Karron, 3/5)

The Washington Post: Democrats Demonized Big Pharma. Now It’s Saving Us From Covid-19
The end of the pandemic is finally in sight. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a third coronavirus vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, which has partnered with its bitter rival Merck to produce 94 million doses in the next eight weeks. Together with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the J&J vaccine is expected to provide enough doses to inoculate every American adult by the end of May — two months ahead of schedule. Not since World War II has an industry mobilized to rescue humanity in this way. So as our long national nightmare approaches its end, it’s worth reflecting on a couple of salient truths: It was the pharmaceutical industry Democrats demonized during the last election that saved us, while the government health experts they lionized failed us. (Marc A. Thiessen, 3/4)

Newsweek: Biden Must Expose China's COVID-19 Cover-Up 
Chinese authorities are still refusing to share critical evidence about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) still refuses to challenge Beijing and is even promoting Chinese cover stories that allege the pandemic did not begin in Wuhan. The Biden administration has begun to notice, but still needs a game plan for holding both Beijing and the WHO accountable. Pinpointing the origins of the coronavirus pandemic is a scientific imperative. America's ability to detect, prevent, and prepare for future pandemics depends on knowing precisely how this one started. The answers to this question clearly have political implications, but public health must come first. (Anthony Ruggiero, 3/4)

Also —

Chicago Tribune: Washington Can No Longer Ignore The Coming Medicare Crisis 
Official Washington, D.C., just got another early warning. The Congressional Budget Office recently confirmed the Medicare trustees’ 2020 report that the Medicare trust fund — the Part A account that funds the hospitalization and related services — faces insolvency in 2026. Insolvency means that Medicare wouldn’t be able to fully reimburse hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies for promised benefits. In 2026, Medicare payments would be immediately cut by 10%, and the payment cuts would continue each year thereafter. (Robert E. Moffit, 3/4)

Tampa Bay Times: Restricting Access To Sex Ed In Florida Schools Will Put Young People At Risk 
As a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, I spend a lot of time discussing sexual health with teens and parents. Often, the young person has arms folded and a scowling face, the parent is shaking a finger and lecturing the teen, and neither is sharing helpful information. At other times, I have teens and parents who are communicating openly on topics such as whether the teen plans to be sexually active after starting on effective contraception and vowing to use condoms, or will be abstinent for the foreseeable future — no conflict, just a family communicating honestly. (Diane Straub, 3/5)