Science, when done well, can be messy, imperfect, and slower than we wish. And it's ever-evolving. Unfortunately, in the time of a pandemic, we wish this weren't the case, as we all want and need immediate answers.Public health policy—including COVID-19 response—should always be informed by the best data available and should evolve with scientific knowledge.
But it should not be based on popular opinion or even well-meaning movements within the scientific community. Good science should precede policy, not vice versa.From the very first cases in China, CIDRAP has been compiling and disseminating science-based information and straight talk on COVID-19.