Panic Attack: Playing Politics with Science in the Fight Against COVID-19

Summary

"Follow the science" is what

they said. "Follow our politics" is what they meant. 

In Panic

Attack, nationally bestselling author and physician Nicole Saphier

uncovers the hypocrisy and hysteria which has characterized so much of the

American pandemic response. While journalists trumpeted the importance of

following science to "flatten the curve," they praised Governors Andrew Cuomo

and Phil Murphy, who sanctioned ill-equipped nursing homes to take

COVID-positive patients, leading to an enormous death spike for New York and

New Jersey. Plus, the old guard medical establishment captured by Dr.

Fauci proved to be far too rigid during a health care emergency. 

While some state legislators are still concealing

accurate records of nursing home deaths, many others have made anti-science

decisions regarding re-opening plans; all of which fuel distrust and civil

unrest. Democrat mayors like Bill de Blasio openly admitted that their

decisions to keep schools closed were fueled by a "social contract" with

teachers (that is: teachers' unions), despite hard science saying this would be

harmful.

When anti-science measures are continuously

implemented, the long-term consequences of such actions

will likely stay with us for years to come. The pandemic has resulted in a

failure of government, much of which is unavoidable in a unique disaster

scenario. However, the rampant politicization of science, from the origin of

the virus to the simple concept of wearing facemasks, has hopelessly muddied

the water, divided the country, and knee-jerk anti-Trumpism made it all worse.