The worst public health crisis in a century has brought with it some swiftly changing coronavirus health measures, and many by now are reacting with weary exasperation, asking: “Why can’t doctors get it straight? Why do they keep changing their minds and telling us to do so many different things?”

Yes, the public health messaging during the pandemic has left much to be desired, especially as too many parties have politicized or debased medical-scientific information and spread disinformation with ugly urgency.