One thing for sure

We are living moments that most of us will remember as a time of profound uncertainty. Each day comes with new narratives on the Covid-19 pandemic. They are expressed in curves and numbers. They are extrapolated based on scarce data to draft many alternative futures: with or without confinement, with or without “herd immunity”, with or without antiviral drugs, with or without a holding health system, etc.

In a couple of months, hopefully, some government will be praised for having acted fast while others blamed for having anticipated the event poorly or having over-reacted. We might come out of this crisis with a different perspective on how we work and live. Lessons will be drawn. Some might be concretized and others will fade until the next crisis hits.

Experts tell us what to do or not to do but they can’t tell us how this will play out. Political leaders are making decisions based on an array of incomplete data, balancing an economic and social crash with the ethical imperative of protecting everyone.

In this context, as citizens, we should digest narratives and information with healthy skepticism and humility. We should feel responsible when amplifying views or criticizing them. Ultimately, governments will be trapped by the opinions we forge no matter what they decide. Therefore, we should be flexible and prepared to change our minds quickly to adapt to these times of uncertainty. We should advance with precaution and remember one thing we know for sure: we mostly don’t know.