> Pandemic label was a response to objective criteria
Modeling the causal impact of their criteria in light of data from the COVID-19 pandemic could reveal how different messaging strategies applied at different thresholds impact the spread of the virus.
The leadership could have done this months ago and estimated how proactive versus inactive quarantine efforts would impact morbidity. They have to know their role in persuading the public and government officials.
You don't have to stick to a rigid and inflexible criteria when thousands of human lives are at stake. When you define the criteria, you can also change them.
I don't understand what you think is to be saved by inciting panic. There's plenty of coverage, all this classification does is open up money from the IMF I believe. A Pandemic classification doesn't change most people's behaviors, but it does cause toilet paper/hand sanitizer shortages.
At least in the US, companies and other organizations are hesitant to be the first ones to stick their necks out and cancel events/encourage remote work. Our federal government's incompetent/evasive/opaque response to the crisis has let the burden fall on local governments in the hardest-hit areas.
Labeling this a pandemic would have given cover to organizations that wanted to be more cautious but were afraid of "looking stupid".
Months ago? The first cases were identified in Hubei on 29 December. The first cases of COVID-19 outside of China were identified on January 13 in Thailand and on January 16 in Japan.
Modeling the causal impact of their criteria in light of data from the COVID-19 pandemic could reveal how different messaging strategies applied at different thresholds impact the spread of the virus.
The leadership could have done this months ago and estimated how proactive versus inactive quarantine efforts would impact morbidity. They have to know their role in persuading the public and government officials.
You don't have to stick to a rigid and inflexible criteria when thousands of human lives are at stake. When you define the criteria, you can also change them.