CDC protocols established years earlier stressing the necessity of keeping the social and economic structures intact were ignored. Renowned experts in the field agreed that vulnerable citizens needed to be protected but not at the expense of children. And economic stability. They were ignored. They were vilified. They lost their jobs. They were booted off platforms that espouse free speech and open dialogue. As a result Americans distrust the very institutions established to protect us. And the result is that vital - and tried and true - vaccinations are lower than they’ve ever been. Add, we are less prepared for the next epidemic. And there will be a next one. The question is do we follow the politics of epidemiology or the science?
The article did not say the shutdowns caused more harm than good, only that there were consequences as a result of the shutdowns. No surprise there. Whether or not you think they were ill advised may very well depend on the extent to which you were affected or inconvenienced. Whether closures did more harm than good is a question to which there will never be an objective answer.
