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Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need.

Calling the Doctor

 

What to Know: A new report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased use of telemedicine. That’s great news.

 

The TPPF Take: Expanding telemedicine will help keep Americans healthier.

 

“Telemedicine offers a convenient and safe alternative to traveling long distances to see a doctor,” says TPPF’s David Balat. “Texas should permanently eliminate regulations waived during the coronavirus outbreak that increased telemedicine access and lowered costs.”

 

Back to School?

 

What to Know: The Texas Attorney General and the Texas Education Agency have set out new—and clear—guidance for school re-openings.

 

The TPPF Take: County public health officials have been issuing orders closing schools county-wide. Attorney General Ken Paxton says that exceeds their power. He’s right.

 

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is completely correct in his legal guidance that local health authorities lack power to issue a blanket closure of all schools,” said TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “Unless applied to individual campuses based upon specific facts, these local health orders are unlawful and void. Furthermore, these local health orders are also superseded by the Governor’s executive orders. General Paxton is correct to affirm that all schools—public and private—may reopen in person for the fall semester.”

 

Rethinking Lockdowns

 

What to Know: A new report from the Heritage Foundation that looked at 10 different nations shows that full lockdowns of society by governments don’t result in better health outcomes in this pandemic than more targeted approaches.

 

The TPPF Take: It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, our economy was steaming along with record employment levels.

 

“The disruptions caused by fear of COVID-19 and the shutdowns ordered by state and local governments have dramatically changed our lives,” says TPPF’s Vance Ginn. “But we can look to that roaring economic situation in February for guidance in finding the path to increasing our freedoms and flourishing now. This begins with responsibly ending the shutdowns ASAP.”

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