This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
As the pandemic continues to shift, North Carolina is facing a significant challenge in communicating with its residents. With nearly 50,000 cases reported after the state's stay-at-home order expired at the end of May, health officials are conducting two or three briefings a week, often with Governor Cooper in attendance.
However, privately, they have expressed frustration with the lack of clear, regularly updated guidance from the CDC on how to talk to the public about the coronavirus threat. This has left them struggling to keep the public informed, according to a senior state official who wished to remain anonymous in their criticism of the Trump administration.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, North Carolina's health secretary, has been consulting with her counterparts from other states, as well as academics and Dr. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director. His health advocacy group, Resolve to Save Lives, published a 'playbook' on Tuesday to help states with their contact-tracing efforts.
Historically, when the White House stopped updating the public, the CDC continued to provide guidance on its own. However, in recent times, the agency has been criticized for not doing enough to communicate with the public directly. Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the CDC, stated in an email that the agency had 'produced vast amounts of information on Covid-19 for intended use by state and local health officials when communicating to the public.'
But written guidance is no substitute for a live human being talking directly to the public, health experts say. Direct communication is essential in building public trust in government health officials, even when mistakes are made. It allows for a running conversation with the public, explaining that as the science changes, recommendations may also change.
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a professor of bioethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of transparency in communication. 'The American public is remarkably forgiving of mistakes when you're upfront: 'Here's why I'm making this judgment now, and things are changing,' he said.
