I recognize that it was a novel virus and certain assumptions about virility, transmissibility etc. were imperfect if well intentioned. But there was some straight-up illogical and self-contradictory stuff that really derailed critical trustworthiness early on. It’s not just Trump who eroded it. 2/
There was repeatedly shifting and contradictory messaging on masking, esp. which types of masks were capable of doing what, and then the whole aborted effort at “contact tracing” set off surveillance state 1984 vibes in a lot of people even though it was barely implemented in the end. 3/
People ended up thinking that even the “good guys” who were trying to protect people were tripping over themselves and overpromising things in regards to the efficacy of masks, distancing, and eventually vaccines. 4/
I fear it will be decades until we have any hope of reestablishing widespread public trust in health authorities. Meanwhile, people end up falling for quackery and conspiracy bunk and become even more distrustful of ANY authority that doesn’t appeal to their biases. 😞