Opinion: COVID-19 May Prove to be ‘Evidence Fiasco’

The author of a recent opinion piece published on STAT says that while COVID-19 has been branded a once-in-a-century pandemic, it could also “be a once-in-a-century evidence fiasco.”

Stanford University’s John Ionnidis writes that solid, reliable information is key in the wake of the outbreak, but “we lack reliable evidence on how many people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who continue to become infected.”

“Draconian countermeasures have been adopted in many countries,” he writes. “If the pandemic dissipates — either on its own or because of these measures — short-term extreme social distancing and lockdowns may be bearable. How long, though, should measures like these be continued if the pandemic churns across the globe unabated? How can policymakers tell if they are doing more good than harm?”

To read the full write-up on STAT, click here.