save lives! They used knowledge of OTHER respiratory viruses to advise people on known standards of care and medical advice.

Of course they made some mistakes! It was BRAND NEW!

trump didn't help the situation AT ALL by refusing to even consider listening to them! He actively ignored and refused their suggestions on how to contain outbreaks! As a result, entire sections of the country exploded with deaths due to rampant stupidity on thinking they could continue to mingle as always, refuse masks, and do whatever the hell they wanted to do!

He tried to hide its deadliness at first, then fought against it every single bit of real medical standards and advice simply because he wanted to win reelection based on the good economy. He didn't care about "the people", he cared about himself!!! He even called it a flu rather than a pandemic like 1918! He suggested the most idiotic treatments that cost lives! His stupidity and out of control ego was on full display during the daily broadcasts he took over to feed it.

This virus turned out to be closer to the 1918 pandemic than any version of a simple flu.

In the beginning, they advised people to stay home rather than venture out to conduct their usual lives. Masks were at a premium and reserved for medical personnel trying to save people. Production was ramped up to provide them for everyone as soon as possible. The masks that were considered useless were those made of simple cloth that couldn't stop the tiny droplets. The 6 foot separations made sense when people wore masks because the masks could stop most of the transfer of the virus by blocking its ability to travel that far. That people constantly ignored the advice was on them!

As a result, government had to FORCE people to comply. Shutting things down was all they could do when people refused to stop going everywhere and spreading it.

If everything had been shut down for one entire month instead of half-@ssed closures for 2 weeks, the virus could have never spread so far and become wild.

Plus, dont forget that it morphed within people and constantly changed!

I could go on, but why bother? Your mind is made up. It just annoyed me no end that you actually tossed that nonsense out.