Americans quickly adjusted their behavior, business, travel, worship services, sporting events, social gatherings, and other activities in response to the onset of COVID-19, forcing major changes in society and the economy. Advised by public health experts and informed by flawed models that predicted rapid transmission and mass causalities, federal, state, and local government leaders implemented a variety of public health tactics and emergency orders to preserve hospital capacity and “flatten the curve” of the pandemic. Emergency powers were used to restrict or, in many cases, halt in-person business and activities determined nonessential, such that by April 6, 42 states had issued “stay at home” orders.
Perhaps as never before, American health care providers and public health officials came under intense pressure and scrutiny as they responded to the pandemic. Health care providers had to learn how to respond to the novel coronavirus and ever-evolving information about it. In some cases, innovation coupled with regulatory reform improved patient access. The government, for example, relaxed restrictions on telehealth, facilitating access to care. But excessive and misguided regulation, like broad-based bans on non-emergency care, had the opposite effect of jeopardizing ongoing care and leading to furloughs in private medical practices, hospitals, and nursing homes—creating a recession in the health care sector during the middle of a pandemic.
While there is much to be proud of in the medical response, it also sometimes fell prey to politicization among the media, policymakers, and even medical associations and journals. Too often, matters involving patient care questions and possible therapeutics and treatments deteriorated into debates that split along political lines.
Sweeping lockdowns proved to be minimally useful public health strategies that inflicted massive economic hardship. More targeted approaches might well have achieved better public health results and done less economic damage. Good public health policy does not employ indiscriminate and sweeping shutdowns of indefinite duration. It identifies the infected, separates them from the uninfected, and identifies those they may have infected. Failing that, it should direct resources to the protection of the most vulnerable, beginning with residents of nursing homes and extending to the broader elderly and at-risk populations.
Federal, state, and local leaders have done best when they make and explain decisions that are based on data and are site-specific and situation-specific, not based on fear or political point scoring. While the former has empowered Americans to make wise individual decisions, the latter has created immense uncertainty and policy “whiplash,” contributing to reduced public trust in public health officials and politicians alike.
Key Heritage Research:
- Norbert J. Michel and Doug Badger, “Policymakers Should Adapt COVID-19 Responses to the Evidence,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3496, May 23, 2020.
- Joel White and Doug Badger, “The CDC Is Failing to Collect and Share Vital Data on COVID-19,” USA Today, August 27, 2020.
- Joel White and Doug Badger, “In Order to Defeat COVID-19, the Federal Government Must Modernize Its Public Health Data,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3527, September 3, 2020.
- Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, and Doug Badger, “Recession Has Hit America’s Health Care Industry—And It’s Brutal. Here’s What Needs to Happen Now,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 12, 2020.
- Edmund Haislmaier, “A Week of Good News on Coronavirus Vaccines: Here’s What’s Needed Next,” National Interest blog, August 16, 2020.
- Marie Fishpaw and Grace-Marie Turner, “Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis and Building a Stronger Health Sector for the Future,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 18, 2020.
- Marie Fishpaw, “The Golden Age of Telehealth Is Here (Thanks to the Coronavirus),” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 17, 2020.
Appendix of Heritage Research
Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “These Endless Public Health Mandates Threaten Americans’ Liberty,” The Daily Signal, March 15, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/these-endless-public-health-mandates-threaten-americans-liberty.
Doug Badger, “Forget Double Making – Double Down on At-Home COVID Testing Instead,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, February 19, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/forget-double-masking-double-down-home-covid-testing-instead.
Nina Owcharenko Schaefer, “5Federal Health Care Actions for States to Watch for in 2021,” The Daily Signal, February 12, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/5-federal-health-care-actions-states-watch-2021.
Doug Badger, “COVID-19: Why President Biden’s Response Strategy Falls Short,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 6044, January 27, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/covid-19-why-president-bidens-response-strategy-falls-short.
Kay C. James, “A Nonpartisan, No-Nonsense Virus Strategy,” Politico Magazine, January 21, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/nonpartisan-no-nonsense-virus-strategy.
Doug Badger and Norbert J. Michel, “Mask Mandates: Are There Better Ways to Control COVID-19 Outbreaks?” Washington Times, January 15, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/mask-mandates-are-there-better-ways-control-covid-19-outbreaks.
Paul Romer, Michael Mina, MD, Doug Badger, and Marie Fishpaw, “Rapid COVID Tests: A Cure for Lockdowns, a Complement to Vaccines,” Heritage Foundation, Lecture No. 1319, January 13, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/rapid-covid-tests-cure-lockdowns-complement-vaccines.
Doug Badger and Norbert Michel, “Mask Mandates: Do They Work? Are There Better Ways to Control COVID-19 Outbreaks?” Heritage Foundation, Backgrounder No. 3578, December 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/mask-mandates-do-they-work-are-there-better-ways-control-covid-19-outbreaks.
Edmund Haislmaier, “COVID-19: Effects of the Response on Health Insurance Coverage and Claims,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 6033, December 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/covid-19-effects-the-response-health-insurance-coverage-and-claims.
Edmund Haislmaier, “COVID-19: Getting Ready for the Vaccines,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 6031, December 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/covid-19-getting-ready-the-vaccines.
Marie Fishpaw and Paul Winfree, “An Urgently Needed Pivot to End COVID and Cure Lockdowns,” ArcaMax, December 7, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/urgently-needed-pivot-end-covid-and-cure-lockdowns.
Kay C. James, “More Lockdowns Aren’t the Answer to Stopping COVID-19,” Washington Times, December 2, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/more-lockdowns-arent-the-answer-stopping-covid-19.
Doug Badger, “Forget Lockdowns: At Home Self Testing Can Work for COVID-19 Containment,” Washington Times, November 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/forget-lockdowns-home-self-testing-can-work-covid-19-containment.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Americans Should Be Free to Decide How to Celebrate Thanksgiving,” The Daily Signal, November 24, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/americans-should-be-free-decide-how-celebrate-thanksgiving.
Kevin Pham, MD, “If We’re Going to Control COVID, We Need to Make This Crucial Change,” ArcaMax, November 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/if-were-going-control-covid-we-need-make-crucial-change.
Marie Fishpaw, Doug Badger, Kevin Pham, MD, “Instead of Lockdowns, the Government Should Liberate Rapid COVID-19 Self-Testing,” Washington Examiner, November 18, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/instead-lockdowns-the-government-should-liberate-rapid-covid-19-self.
Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “The Science Is Not Settled on COVID-19 Guidelines,” Daily Signal, November 4, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/the-science-not-settled-covid-19-guidelines.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Politicians Embracing Lockdown Tactics Should Be Required to “Show Their Work,”’ Twincities, October 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/politicians-embracing-lockdown-tactics-should-be-required-show-their-work.
Edmund F. Haislmaier, “Ensuring Americans’ Access to Pharmaceuticals: A Primer and Road Map for Policymakers,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3545, October 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/ensuring-americans-access-pharmaceuticals-primer-and-road-map.
Marie Fishpaw and Kevin Pham, MD, “Trump Should Direct His Administration to Generate Better Guidance On COVID-19 Testing,” The Daily Signal, October 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/trump-should-direct-his-administration-generate-better-guidance-covid-19.
Kay C. James, “National Coronavirus Recovery Commission Offers Roadmap for COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery,” The Washington Times, September 24, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/national-coronavirus-recovery-commission-offers-roadmap-covid-19-pandemic.
Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Can and Should Be Allowed to Do More for Public Health,” The Washington Times, September 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/advanced-practice-registered-nurses-can-and-should-be-allowed-do-more.
Joel White and Doug Badger, “In Order to Defeat COVID-19, the Federal Government Must Modernize Its Public Health Data,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3527, September 3, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/order-defeat-covid-19-the-federal-government-must-modernize-its-public.
Kevin Pham, MD, “New COVID-19 Findings Confirm What We Have Learned Since the Beginning. A Targeted Response Is More Important Than Ever.” The Daily Signal, September 5, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/new-covid-19-findings-confirm-what-we-have-learned-the-beginning-targeted.
Bob Moffit, “HHS Moves to Eliminate Delays in COVID-19 Testing,” RealClear Health, August 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/hhs-moves-eliminate-delays-covid-19-testing.
Doug Badger and Joel White, “Why Is the CDC Fighting Today’s Virus With Yesterday’s Technology?” The Sacramento Bee, August 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/why-the-cdc-fighting-todays-virus-yesterdays-technology.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Andrew Cuomo Had the Worst Coronavirus Response in the Country. Why Should Anyone Read His Book?” Washington Examiner, August 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/andrew-cuomo-had-the-worst-coronavirus-response-the-country-why-should.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, “What States Can Learn From Texas’ COVID-19 Response,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 31, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/what-states-can-learn-texas-covid-19-response.
Kevin Pham, MD, “COVID-19: More Testing…and More Delays,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/covid-19-more-testing-and-more-delays.
Marie Fishpaw and Stephanie Zawada, “Telehealth in the Pandemic and Beyond: The Policies That Made It Possible, and the Policies That Can Expand Its Potential,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3510, July 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/telehealth-the-pandemic-and-beyond-the-policies-made-it-possible-and-the.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Using Face Masks Is Still a Good Idea. Mandating Them Isn’t,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/using-face-masks-still-good-idea-mandating-them-isnt.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, and Kevin Pham, MD, “Paused COVID-19 Reopenings Reflect Setbacks, Not a Failure of Protocols,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 2, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/paused-covid-19-reopenings-reflect-setbacks-not-failure-protocols.
Marie Fishpaw and Grace-Marie Turner, “Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis and Building a Stronger Health Sector for the Future,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 18, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/responding-the-coronavirus-crisis-and-building-stronger-health-sector.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, and Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD, FACR, “A New Strategy for Equipping Medical Providers to Cope with the Next Pandemic or Infectious-Disease Outbreak,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3502, June 18, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/new-strategy-equipping-medical-providers-cope-the-next-pandemic-or-infectious.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, and Doug Badger, “Recession Has Hit America’s Health Care Industry—And It’s Brutal. Here’s What Needs to Happen Now,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 12, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/recession-has-hit-americas-health-care-industry-and-its-brutal-heres.
Robert E. Moffit and Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD, FACR, “Common Sense on COVID-19 Beats Second-Guessing Every Time,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 11, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/common-sense-covid-19-beats-second-guessing-every-time.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, and Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD, FACR, “Achieving Consensus: A Commonsense Approach for Testing in a Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5084, June 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/achieving-consensus-commonsense-approach-testing-pandemic.
Daren Bakst, “Extreme Environmentalist Ideology Shouldn’t Undercut CDC’s Coronavirus Guidance,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 4, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/extreme-environmentalist-ideology-shouldnt-undercut-cdcs-coronavirus.
Amy Anderson DNP, RN, and Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD, FACR, “Hospitals’ Financial Losses, Layoffs from Coronavirus Are a Disaster,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 29, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/hospitals-financial-losses-layoffs-coronavirus-are-disaster.
Norbert J. Michel and Doug Badger, “Policymakers Should Adapt COVID-19 Responses to the Evidence,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3496, May 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/policymakers-should-adapt-covid-19-responses-the-evidence.
Romina Boccia, Justin Bogie, Marie Fishpaw, and Frederico Bartels, “A Proposed ‘Health Defense Operations’ Slush Fund Won’t Protect U.S. From Future Pandemics,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/commentary/proposed-health-defense-operations-slush-fund-wont-protect-us-future.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Let’s Trust Americans to Be Careful About COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 18, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/lets-trust-americans-be-careful-about-covid-19.
Angela Sailor, “A Salute to the Ingenuity of American Nurses,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/salute-the-ingenuity-american-nurses.
Kevin Pham, MD, “How the CDC Could Optimize Best Practices from COVID-19 Hot Spots,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 6, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/how-the-cdc-could-optimize-best-practices-covid-19-hot-spots.
Doug Badger and Norbert J. Michel, “Is Sweden’s COVID-19 Approach the Right One? What 1 Expert Thinks,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 1, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/swedens-covid-19-approach-the-right-one-what-1-expert-thinks.
Klon Kitchen, “The Apple–Google Partnership to Fight COVID-19: Understanding the Promises and Perils of Digital Contact Tracing,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5065, April 30, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/technology/report/the-apple-google-partnership-fight-covid-19-understanding-the-promises-and-perils.
Edmund F. Haislmaier, “To Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine, Let’s Ensure Manufacturing Capacity Will Meet Demand,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/prepare-covid-19-vaccine-lets-ensure-manufacturing-capacity-will-meet.
Peter Brookes and Brayden Helwig, “Here’s Why Development of a Vaccine Takes So Long,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/heres-why-development-vaccine-takes-so-long.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Lives and Livelihoods Are Inseparable, Should Be Addressed as Such, Coronavirus Recovery Panel Says,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/lives-and-livelihoods-are-inseparable-should-be-addressed-such-coronavirus.
Kevin Pham, MD, “COVID-19 Testing and the Way Forward on Resuming Non-Urgent Medical Care,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/covid-19-testing-and-the-way-forward-resuming-non-urgent-medical-care.
Doug Badger and Norbert J. Michel, “Keeping Our Distance in the New Normal of Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/keeping-our-distance-the-new-normal-coronavirus.
Brayden Helwig, Kevin Pham, MD, and Peter Brooks, “Coronavirus and Public Health: 5 Glimpses of What the Near Future Looks Like,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 22, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/coronavirus-and-public-health-5-glimpses-what-the-near-future-looks.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Federal Government Should Focus on Areas Closest to Reopening,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/federal-government-should-focus-areas-closest-reopening.
Doug Badger and Norbert J. Michel, “Coronavirus: Policymakers Should Augment Hospital Capacity Where Needed, Not Mandate Permanent Excess Capacity,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3487, April 16, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/coronavirus-policymakers-should-augment-hospital-capacity-where-needed-not.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Public Health Steps Should Benefit, Not Punish, the Public,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/public-health-steps-should-benefit-not-punish-the-public.
Edmund F. Haislmaier, “How FDA’s Emergency Powers Speed Drugs, Other Supplies to Fight Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/how-fdas-emergency-powers-speed-drugs-other-supplies-fight-coronavirus.
Brayden Helwig and Peter Brookes, “4 Courses the Coronavirus Could Take,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/4-courses-the-coronavirus-could-take.
Robert E. Moffit and Doug Badger, “Defeating COVID-19—What Policymakers Can Do to Change the Conditions on the Ground,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3485, April 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/defeating-covid-19-what-policymakers-can-do-change-the-conditions-the-ground.
Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “New COVID-19 Tests Will Inform Our Endgame,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 7, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/new-covid-19-tests-will-inform-our-endgame.
Peter Brookes, “When Can Life Return to Normal? 4 Signs to Monitor,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 1, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/when-can-life-return-normal-4-signs-monitor.
Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “5 Extraordinary Measures We Should Take to Help Health Workers Fight COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 31, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/5-extraordinary-measures-we-should-take-help-health-workers-fight.
Allen Guelzo, “Rationing Care Is a Surrender to Death,” Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/rationing-care-surrender-death.
Robert E. Moffit and Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD, FACR, “Yes, We Can Strike the Right Balance Amid the COVID-19 Crisis,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/yes-we-can-strike-the-right-balance-amid-the-covid-19-crisis.
Nina Owcharenko Schaefer, “Removing Obstacles, Cutting Red Tape, and Staying Flexible in Responding to COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/removing-obstacles-cutting-red-tape-and-staying-flexible-responding-covid.
Kevin Pham, MD, “The Wisdom of Trump’s 15 Days to Slow Spread of COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/the-wisdom-trumps-15-days-slow-spread-covid-19.
Dakota L. Wood, “Distancing, Quarantine, Isolation: Tools to Combat a Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 24, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/distancing-quarantine-isolation-tools-combat-pandemic.
Paul J. Larkin, Jr., “COVID-19 and the Provisional Licensing of Qualified Medical School Graduates as Physicians,” Washington and Lee Law Review Online, Vol. 76, No. 2 (2020), https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1121&context=wlulr-online.
Peter Brookes, “‘Flattening the Curve’ Critical to Fighting Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 18, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/flattening-the-curve-critical-fighting-coronavirus.
Robert E. Moffit, “Coronavirus Testing Delays Show Why Federal Health Care Rules Need Thorough Review,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 17, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/coronavirus-testing-delays-show-why-federal-health-care-rules-need.
Nina Owcharenko Schaefer, “How Policymakers Can Help Low-Income Americans Access Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 13, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/how-policymakers-can-help-low-income-americans-access-care-during-the.
Paul Winfree, Marie Fishpaw, and Robert Rector, “3 Food Aid Steps Policymakers Can Take for Needy Hurt by Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 12, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/hunger-and-food-programs/commentary/3-food-aid-steps-policymakers-can-take-needy-hurt-coronavirus.
Peter Brookes and Brayden Helwig, “Why We’ve Got to Get the Coronavirus Response Right,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 5, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/why-weve-got-get-the-coronavirus-response-right.
Peter Brookes, “The 2019 Coronavirus: How to Think About It and How to Respond,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5034, February 3, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/report/the-2019-coronavirus-how-think-about-it-and-how-respond.
