Fact Based Action vs Panic Labeling in COVID-19 Decision Making

March 11, 2020

I referenced computer modeling as well as government leaders occasionally having, and not immediately releasing, full information about a given situation to the general public in my article about COVID-19 event scenarios https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/reasoned-view-covid-19-event-cancellation-issues-plus-robert-weissman/ 

The following news contains an excellent illustration of those issues:

It's reasonable to assume Chancellor Merkel had been continuously receiving updates as more data could be fed to the computer model. I suspect this probability was identified before today’s statement; though not as strong as it is now. I also suspect she waited until the number and trend were so high that to not make the statement immediately would now be irresponsible. Nowhere do I see her advising the populace to panic...just straight facts about the situation, delivered in an even, serious tone; with an absence of sugar-coating and slogans.

It must be noted that she had actually received some criticism for her response up to this point.

I must add that releasing this information now could actually help decrease the contagion, as people seriously heed the measures the government advises and implements. She and her advisers, did what they believed to be in the best interests of their country.

However, according to the article : “Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has since been quoted by CTK news agency as saying that Merkel’s statements “cause panic.”

Do you think Merkel enjoyed having to do this? Do you think the German population would be better off not knowing things the German government believes are very real? Do you think Mr Babis might be better served by looking at his country’s proximity to Germany and Italy?

As I'm typing this the following story came across my news feed:

Exclusive: White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations

I'm going to take a moment to read it, so two final questions:

If the news is bad but accurate, would you rather not hear it?

If you do receive bad news, by accident or design, would you act upon it in a professional manner, or panic?

Like I said, three final questions: do you believe the overwhelming majority of the German population are going to panic?

About the author

Rob Weissman is president of Alliance Media Strategies which provides bespoke consulting services to the exhibition, conference, and events industries, utilizing the best practices of observational analysis, scientific method, and social, behavioral, and group psychology; combined with more than two decades of hands-on event creation and management.