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.