From Dr. K

COVID Policy Reversals: A Timeline of Shifting Narratives
A series of high-profile policy reversals and shifts in official guidance characterized the global response to COVID-19. While often presented as "evolving science," many of these changes directly contradicted earlier mandates and public declarations. Below is a look at the major policy pivots that occurred since the start of the pandemic.
1. The Great Mask Flip-Flop
One of the most visible reversals involved the use of face masks.

• Initial Guidance: In early 2020, top officials like the U.S. Surgeon General explicitly told the public not to buy masks, stating they were "NOT effective" for the general public.
• The Mandate Era: By April 3, 2020, the CDC reversed this stance, recommending universal masking based on new data about asymptomatic spread.
• The Vaccination Pivot: In May 2021, the CDC announced that vaccinated individuals could stop wearing masks in most settings.
• The Delta Reversal: Just two months later, in July 2021, the agency reinstated mask recommendations for vaccinated people in high-transmission areas due to the Delta variant.

2. Vaccine Effectiveness and Transmission
Early promotional efforts for the vaccines often suggested they would "stop the virus in its tracks," but official claims were later scaled back.

• Initial Claims: It was initially suggested that high vaccination rates could achieve herd immunity and significantly block transmission.
• The Waning Reality: By late 2021, studies showed that vaccine-associated reductions in transmission declined rapidlyfalling to levels similar to unvaccinated persons within just 12 weeks for specific variants.
• Policy Shift: The focus shifted from "preventing infection" to "preventing severe illness and death" as breakthrough cases became common.

3. School Closures and Social Distancing
The approach to education and physical proximity shifted dramatically as the long-term impacts of lockdowns became clear.

• Lockdowns: In March 2020, every U.S. state closed schools to in-person instruction.
• The 6-Foot vs. 3-Foot Rule: The CDC originally mandated a 6-foot distancing rule, which was a primary barrier to reopening schools. In March 2021, this was halved to 3 feet to facilitate in-person learning.
• Reversal on Importance: While initial closures were framed as essential, later reports by the CDC and other bodies emphasized the "massive damage" to children’s social and academic development, leading to a push for schools to remain open regardless of case counts.

4. Quarantine and Isolation Lengths
The duration of time people were required to stay home changed repeatedly, often cited as being driven by "workforce considerations" rather than purely clinical data.

• 14 Days: The standard was initially a strict 14-day quarantine for anyone exposed to the virus.
• 10 to 5 Days: In December 2021, the CDC cut the recommended isolation period for infected individuals from 10 days down to 5 days, a move that faced criticism for being motivated by economic and staffing needs rather than biology.

5. Origin Theories: From "Conspiracy" to "Plausible."
The discourse surrounding the virus’s origin underwent a radical shift in official circles.

• The Early Ban: Early in the pandemic, the "lab leak" theory was widely dismissed by official bodies and social media platforms as misinformation or a conspiracy theory.
• The Formal Investigation: By 2023, agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy and the FBI shifted their stance, acknowledging that a laboratory mishap was a plausible, if not likely, origin of the virus.
• Culminating in the US leaving the WHO…..

The frequent changes in these "settled" policies have led to a significant decline in public trust in health institutions. For many, these reversals serve as evidence of an inconsistent and often politically motivated response to the crisis.

Here at ECIM, we never went for it, not from day 1. We never infringed on your rights and/or the sovereignty of your body, nor on informed consent. It was an absolute sham.

Shaan Kunwar DO

At East County Internal Medicine, we are dedicated to providing ethical, patient-centered care to our community. As internal medicine specialists, we often collaborate with rheumatologists to manage complex conditions like autoimmune diseases. However, recent high-profile cases have highlighted a disturbing trend in the field: some rheumatologists fabricating or exaggerating diagnoses to justify unnecessary treatments and generate profits. This not only erodes trust in healthcare but can also cause real harm to patients through unwarranted medications and procedures. We’re sharing this information to empower our patients and neighbors to stay informed, seek second opinions when needed, and advocate for transparent medical practices.

# Understanding the Issue
Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are serious, lifelong diseases that require careful diagnosis based on symptoms, lab tests, and imaging. Unfortunately, the high reimbursement rates for treatments like biologic infusions and chemotherapy drugs have led to fraudulent schemes in some cases. Prosecutors have uncovered patterns where doctors falsely label patients with these conditions to bill insurers millions, often subjecting individuals—including children and the elderly—to toxic therapies they don’t need. This results in side effects ranging from organ damage to increased infection risks, all while padding the pockets of unethical providers.

# Notable Cases Highlighting the Problem
One of the most egregious examples involves Texas rheumatologist Jorge Zamora-Quezada, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2025 for a scheme involving over $118 million in false claims. He falsely diagnosed thousands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, prescribing unnecessary chemotherapy and infusions, leading to severe harm like strokes and other complications. In a related earlier conviction, he was tied to a $325 million fraud involving similar tactics. Prosecutors noted that he diagnosed nearly 73% of his Medicare patients with the condition—far exceeding the 13% average among peers.

More recently, in November 2025, Anchorage rheumatologist Claribel Tan and her husband pleaded guilty to over $12 million in healthcare fraud. Specializing in autoimmune diseases, Tan deceived patients by underdosing injections or lying about medications, affecting around 400 individuals who received unconsented treatments.

Other instances include Enrico Arguelles, a former Montana rheumatologist, who settled for $2 million in 2021 over allegations of improper rheumatoid arthritis diagnoses and unnecessary MRIs and infusions. Similar indictments have targeted doctors in Kentucky and Rhode Island for fraudulent billing related to rheumatoid arthritis treatments like Remicade infusions.

These cases are part of broader Department of Justice efforts, with annual takedowns charging hundreds of professionals for billions in fraudulent losses. While most rheumatologists are ethical, these scandals underscore the need for vigilance.

### What Can You Do?
If you’re dealing with symptoms of joint pain, fatigue, or other potential autoimmune issues, always:
– Ask for clear explanations of your diagnosis and treatment plan.
– Consider a second opinion from a trusted specialist.
– Review your medical bills and Explanation of Benefits statements for discrepancies.
– Report suspicions of fraud to Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) or your state’s medical board.

At East County Internal Medicine, we prioritize evidence-based care and transparency. If you have concerns about a diagnosis or need a referral to a reputable rheumatologist, our team is here to help. Together, we can protect our community’s health and hold the system accountable.

*Posted by East County Internal Medicine on January 13, 2026.*

It has been a privilege to be able to serve the community by providing access to medical cannabis to those who use it for relief since 2017.

Our patients have received excellent support and assurance in a sector that can often be associated with much myth. We strive to provide a high quality experience to you, our patients. Communication is a big component of how the patients feel they are being treated.

When we first began in 2017, some practices took advantage of early adopters through price gouging. It is an interesting scenario because the market must regulate itself to offer fair prices to consumers, and at the beginning, people were getting taken advantage of.

Also, searching for access to the Florida cannabis program often led the patient/consumer to questionable operators and locations. It seemed that opportunists quickly networked to sign up as many patients as they could, and were willing to roam the state looking for interested parties willing to sign up with someone they really don’t know.

This is why I make it a point to show that we are your trusted primary care doctor with roots in the community. Since keeping the renewal rate at $85 for follow-ups since 2017, we are reluctantly increasing it to $100 for your cannabis renewals. This cost increase allows us to continue providing you with live phone support from Anesha and Afshaun, and to assure you that you are legitimately exercising your state constitutional right with a trusted doctor in the community.

We thank you for your understanding, and remind you again of our referral program. As many of you have been with us for several years and have gained so much relief with cannabis and being liberated and not having to rely on another entity, the 7-month renewal has become somewhat of a bill, and this program allows you to relatively easily reduce that by $20 a time and per referral you send us.

Our growth to one of the largest cannabis providers in the county was due to your referrals, and we sincerely appreciate this. The $20 referral credit was a simple thank-you and an incentive to keep growth going.

Thank you for allowing us to be your trusted source for medical cannabis and for understanding this price increase.

Please call us if you have any questions, and will talk to you soon.

Shaan Kunwar DO