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Boris Johnson promised to level with Britons about coronavirus – he’s still yet to do so

Editorial: The public can only put things into perspective if the government opens up the flow of information about the pandemic

Thursday 26 March 2020 20:39 GMT
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The PM has previously admitted that many families will lose loved ones
The PM has previously admitted that many families will lose loved ones

Social media abhors a vacuum. When the government fails to publish detailed data on the coronavirus outbreak, the consequences are predictable. What data does exist is misinterpreted and misused; conspiracy theories multiply; “covidiots” make up their own science.

It is natural that the public is worried. Scenes from Italy are distressing; as are the media reports, however accurate, of the threat to all ages.

Yet the public can only put things into perspective if the government opens up the flow of information about the virus. Accurately estimating infection and mortality rates is difficult; yet the government must present them, with context. It appears the stages and severity of infection vary so much between individuals; all the more reason why the government should present precise information on the profile of those who have had the disease. The public’s understanding of public health may be poor, but the alternative is far worse.

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