It could be argued that ineffective and inconsistent messaging and regulations about COVID-19 are more damaging than not having messaging or regulations at all. Inconsistencies lead to distrust of institutions, which leads to flouting of rules. A segment of the population — rightly or wrongly — becomes disengaged from civil society. That’s dangerous.
Especially troubling is that often these inconsistencies about COVID are purveyed by the very people and institutions entrusted with providing sound guidance: public health experts and government leaders.
The Centers for Disease Control has in recent months released new levels of guidance to match vaccine uptake in the country. What’s strange is that so much of this guidance doesn’t reflect how Americans are living their lives. This guidance grants permission for vaccinated individuals to undertake activities that Americans, regardless of their vaccine status, have been doing for months — meeting with family and friends, eating in restaurants, attending events. In many states, including Colorado, these activities have been permitted for some time, with limits in place, of course. So who exactly is the CDC speaking to?
There’s a disconnect here that is not only surreal but dangerous. When the CDC releases information irrelevant to how millions of people are living their lives — that it is now permitted to be outdoors without a mask, for example — people start to think: If they’re so out of touch with the behavior of ordinary Americans, how valuable are any of their assessments? Out-of-touch advice erodes trust in an extremely important public institution.
The public is told repeatedly that policy is driven by science — except when it’s not. Who can forget when the lockdown was first announced in Colorado, how cannabis and liquor stores were included in the lockdown? Suddenly, after a run on such shops, they were reopened. Had the “science” changed in 24 hours? No, it was a pragmatic, political decision. But the skepticism began, in part because government leaders were unwilling to admit that the decision was not rooted in science.
Or take Dr. Fauci’s original advice in March, 2020 not to wear masks. Instead of being transparent that this advice was based on his concerns about a run on PPE materials for frontline health workers, Fauci chose to say masks were useless. He sowed a potent seed of distrust that has continued to grow — and he still will not admit that he made a mistake in his messaging.
This approach undermines public trust in the CDC. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as public health crises — such as COVID — can be matters of life and death. The CDC needs to do better.
Copyright © 2021 by the Intermountain Jewish News
