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Good question! Of course bad news sells for the media but it seems to be Govt strategy not to focus on any good news at the moment.
Same in April when they were highlighting high reported deaths each day & ignoring that deaths-by-date were showing we had passed the peak. https://twitter.com/nascaife/status/1349259668942692353
Same in April when they were highlighting high reported deaths each day & ignoring that deaths-by-date were showing we had passed the peak. https://twitter.com/nascaife/status/1349259668942692353
I get that the Govt is worried if people hear things are improving, they may change their behaviour & spread the virus more.
Personally, I would argue it is far better to treat the public with respect & to provide balanced, accurate information whether good or bad news.
Personally, I would argue it is far better to treat the public with respect & to provide balanced, accurate information whether good or bad news.
At the moment the balanced message would be that infections are decreasing in most parts of the country (especially London) whilst at the same time many of our hospitals remain under immense pressure.
If you try to manipulate people with misleading or partial information, there can be unintended consequences.
When infections are very high, most people’s natural instinct is to take more care, especially with regard to vulnerable people ...
When infections are very high, most people’s natural instinct is to take more care, especially with regard to vulnerable people ...
... but if you lose trust in the information you are given, knowing when it is most important to reduce risks is harder. Others will just ignore government messaging altogether.
Another problem with exaggerating bad news is that some can be too frightened to venture out get other healthcare problems checked & treated.
Others (not just the vulnerable) have been too frightened to leave their homes at all, even when infections were very low in the summer.
Others (not just the vulnerable) have been too frightened to leave their homes at all, even when infections were very low in the summer.
If the Government & its advisors want to regain trust, they should be honest with the public and talk about the good news as well as the bad. It will pay dividends in the long run.
