Importance of Trust During Pandemics

Over the past few months, there have been protests in many US states urging governments to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses. In Michigan, some of these protests included armed protestors entering the Michigan statehouse. Images, such as the one below, show citizens violating the direct decree of their elected leaders to protest orders put in place to keep them, their families, and their friends safe. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52496514

For some of us, it is difficult to imagine having a total lack of trust in the precautions urged by public health experts. I trust most of the plans that our leaders, guided by public health professionals, have put in place. I find it very frustrating that people are willing to put themselves and their loved ones at risk to regain legal access to restaurants, leisure activities, and ‘traditional’ life. However, the lack of trust in our government is felt by a strong majority of US citizens, and was a problem before anyone had heard of COVID-19. 

In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in July 2019, three quarters of Americans believed that trust in the federal government is decreasing. This research was done prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, and I firmly believe that national trust in our elected leaders is at an all-time low due to the government’s response to the pandemic. 

The lack of trust in our government is fueled by the inconsistent messages our local and federal governments are preaching. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mistrust is perpetuated by lack of a coherent national plan to end the pandemic. The federal government expects governors and local leaders to make the difficult decisions to keep their citizens at home and businesses closed. However, instead of supporting and encouraging those decisions, members of the federal government have been antagonizing these efforts. Towards the end of March, shortly after Michigan’s Governor Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order, Trump told a reporter that Governor Whitmer had “no idea what’s going on” in response to the governor requesting supplies. Taken out of context, this gave many Michiganders further reason to mistrust and ignore the Whitmer’s suggestions and orders. 

The effect of lack of trust on pandemic protocol is prominent when compared to other countries’ responses to the pandemic. Dr. Catherine Willermet, a professor from Central Michigan University with a background in biological anthropology, showcased the responses of countries successfully combatting the pandemic. Germany and South Korea, although using differing approaches to fight the pandemic, have had huge successes due to their citizens’ trust in the government and the establishment of coherent national plans. This can be seen in the graph below. Dr. Willermet contrasts these countries’ approaches with the United States’ current tactics, calling for the US to establish clear, broadcasted plans, further education, and increased access to health care.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-black-people-in-england-and-wales-twice-as-likely-to-die-with-covid-19/

 Citizens in Michigan protested their “right” to use their motorboats, have dinner with friends, and take part in other nonessential activities. They were protesting against our local government, but (as they believed) in favor of our national government. Meanwhile, in South Korea, people are more than willing to stay home, install tracking programs on their phones, and have their temperature checked before entering grocery stores. Their citizens trust the clear message conveyed by their leaders and are willing to do their part. In Germany, the highly social citizens are content to stay home because they trust their leaders’ claim that it is best for their country. It is disappointing to witness the utter lack of care for others’ health and wellbeing here in the US. This trend is likely due to the mistrust resulting from inconsistencies in what our leaders are preaching, and the lack of a coherent national plan. 

 In order to regain the trust of citizens, it is crucial that the state and national governments work together and support each other’s efforts. Together, our leaders must create a clear plan for the country and make this plan available to citizens. Resources must be provided to educate citizens on why the decided protocols are necessary. It may be too late for a proper, collective response from our state and federal government for the first wave of COVID-19. However, we must remind our elected officials to learn from their own mistakes, as well as the successes and failures of past leaders. Consistent communication from state and federal government is crucial in establishing trusting citizens and an effective national response to a pandemic.