COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for scientific literacy, an understanding of the trade-offs behind public policy and clear government ...
Given that this global health crisis still has some way to go, three key lessons can be learnt from these experiences that should inform public policy when it comes to COVID-19.The first lesson is for the public to be aware that there is no single thing called “the science”.
While the prevailing assumption among scientists and health officials has been that the virus is not transmitted through the air, some notable examples of indoor transmission taking place despite social distancing are leading some to suggest otherwise. It is easy to forget that there was a time when asymptomatic spread of the virus was not well-established, and the World Health Organization did not think that there was sufficient evidence to support wearing masks as a general practice.
In the popular imagination, science is almost synonymous with a fixed set of facts and objectivity. Ordinary citizens are generally less concerned about its actual methods and the hugely varying quality of its studies.Even governments are not immune to this. Since then, however, many have questioned the modelling, or the exact efficacy of lockdowns. And ultimately, we may never know with exact certainty which side is right, and which studies have been the most reflective of reality.
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