Governor Andrew Cuomo - WKTV
The inadequate responses of our elected officials have worsened the damage done by the pandemic. Donald Trump bears most of the blame for the U. S’s weak response to coronavirus. His incompetence and selfishness have led to the colossal failure to mitigate and control the virus. But Trump’s failure was compounded by the disjointed approach to the infection by some state and local officials.
The state and local officials who failed to respond to the virus adequately did so out of homage to Trump. Trump and other officials have made many missteps. Most significantly, they have been unable to ensure that they consistently communicate accurate information. Officials need to deliver the scientific facts and any gaps in knowledge in a coherent and easy-to-understand way.
Unless the information is clearly and consistently presented, officials will not be believed and will lose credibility. Because of the mixed messaging we have had, too many Americans do not understand the threat posed by the coronavirus. The mixed messaging that Trump and some officials are guilty of has led to the current out of control spikes we see now. But even some officials who have effectively communicated the facts about coronavirus may be in danger of losing their credibility.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has communicated more effectively than many other elected officials. But even Cuomo has had missteps. Cuomo did not recognize the seriousness of the coronavirus as soon as he should have. As a result, Cuomo failed to quarantine New York or take other steps to slow the disease’s spread as soon as he should have. Once he recognized the seriousness of the infection, he scheduled daily briefings in which he did a masterful job of presenting what he and his advisors knew about the disease, its spread, and the state’s response.
But even Cuomo has made a potentially dangerous mistake. He has likened lifting the restrictions imposed to slow the disease’s spread to opening a valve. And Cuomo stated that if the infection’s spread started to overwhelm the health care system, he would re-impose the restrictions. Thus, Cuomo has promised that he and public health officials could control the disease.
Modulating the disease depends on the behavior of people. And as we see now, once limits are lifted, people tend to believe that they no longer need to observe and restrictions. Valves can be turned on and off easily. People cannot.
The state and local officials who failed to respond to the virus adequately did so out of homage to Trump. Trump and other officials have made many missteps. Most significantly, they have been unable to ensure that they consistently communicate accurate information. Officials need to deliver the scientific facts and any gaps in knowledge in a coherent and easy-to-understand way.
Unless the information is clearly and consistently presented, officials will not be believed and will lose credibility. Because of the mixed messaging we have had, too many Americans do not understand the threat posed by the coronavirus. The mixed messaging that Trump and some officials are guilty of has led to the current out of control spikes we see now. But even some officials who have effectively communicated the facts about coronavirus may be in danger of losing their credibility.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has communicated more effectively than many other elected officials. But even Cuomo has had missteps. Cuomo did not recognize the seriousness of the coronavirus as soon as he should have. As a result, Cuomo failed to quarantine New York or take other steps to slow the disease’s spread as soon as he should have. Once he recognized the seriousness of the infection, he scheduled daily briefings in which he did a masterful job of presenting what he and his advisors knew about the disease, its spread, and the state’s response.
But even Cuomo has made a potentially dangerous mistake. He has likened lifting the restrictions imposed to slow the disease’s spread to opening a valve. And Cuomo stated that if the infection’s spread started to overwhelm the health care system, he would re-impose the restrictions. Thus, Cuomo has promised that he and public health officials could control the disease.
Modulating the disease depends on the behavior of people. And as we see now, once limits are lifted, people tend to believe that they no longer need to observe and restrictions. Valves can be turned on and off easily. People cannot.
