Thread by @digiphile

“What proved even more deadly was the government policy toward the truth”-John M. Berry, on the 1918 flu pandemic
smithsonianmag.com/history/journa…
“while influenza bled into American life, public health officials, determined to keep morale up, began to lie.”

“The most important lesson from 1918 is to tell the truth. Though that idea is incorporated into every preparedness plan I know of, its actual implementation will depend on the character & leadership of the people in charge when a crisis erupts”-John Berry
washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

The way to a contain a pandemic’s impacts on public health, economies, & social cohesion is to invest in capacity, institutions, & trustworthy info to create shared facts. Denial & BS won’t stabilize markets or regain trust: evidence of effective response & moral leadership will.

Trump’s maladministration, lies, & malign neglect of @WHNSC pandemic capacity, & deliberate undermining of public trust in government & media have put our union at greater risk. We need Congress to check & correct, fast, before #COVID19 pandemic gets worse

https://twitter.com/digiphile/status/1232345146253074432

Tragic to see Trump make a bad situation worse by calling #coronavirus a “hoax,” but sadly predictable given his narcissism, ignorance, & unfitness for office: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/… would be wise to let @CDCgov take lead, but few adults left to stop Trump tweeting or on script.

We know politicizing science beggars public knowledge, preventing collective action against existential threats.
Politicizing a pandemic is a recipe for panic & dysfunction & will lead to more sickness & death.

But Trump did so last night: politico.com/news/2020/02/2…

Wake up, @GOP.