I don’t know how bad the “reopening” wave of this virus is going to be, for many reasons connected to many variables. I don’t know the best way to account for all the direct and indirect deaths and social harm that result from a lockdown, now and years into the future. I don’t know how to balance these two things even if I could quantify them. I don’t know how precise or reliable the information is that our public servants are relying on as they nuance their reopening plans by industry and region.
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What I do know is that I’m thankful to be living in a country with high social solidarity, and trust in our media, government, and healthcare institutions. Because whatever comes at us, whatever the cost of our inevitable errors, it is far superior to have a coordinated, broadly supported response than be driven by at least 50 different policies in an environment dominated by distrust and propaganda.