Official risk communication for COVID-19 and beyond: can we do a better job?

The COVID-19 pandemic strained the infrastructure of public health systems worldwide and unearthed the social and institutional challenges of operating in a global crisis. This was exacerbated in the United States (U.S.), as public risk communication messages from local, state and federal public officials were rife with conflicting information. In this article, we unpack the perils of flawed risk communication and how it puts people at greater risk for infection and other secondary risks stemming from the pandemic mitigation behaviors. The choice to engage in preventive behaviors, such as social distancing, wearing facemasks, and frequently washing hands, differed dramatically across populations. On one extreme, some individuals, which we call the under-cautious, were hesitant to follow public health guidance regarding preventive behaviors, putting them at risk for COVID-19-associated morbidity. On the other end of this spectrum is another group, the over-cautious, who chose to physically remove themselves from social interactions, going beyond appropriate recommendations from experts to mitigate risk. This group may experience greater secondary risks associated with the pandemic, such as mental health issues, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. The infrastructural and communication challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic must be further explored and mitigated. In the future, these campaigns need to target both the under-cautious and the over-cautious, as both extreme groups can potentially suffer health consequences in a pandemic.