Former COVID Response Coordinator Criticizes Early Missteps

Dr. Deborah Burks testified before a House subcommittee, highlighting early missteps in the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. She criticized the spread of misinformation, particularly from Dr. Scott Atlas, which led to a false sense of security and loss of public trust. Dr. Atlas advised against widespread testing and mask usage, focusing instead on herd immunity. This advice caused internal conflicts within the task force and contributed to a disjointed public message. Dr. Burks also revealed that the White House directed her to censor pandemic reports. She estimated that 130,000 American lives could have been saved with better safety measures.

What was the overall result of the disjointed messaging from the White House during the pandemic?

According to Doctor Burks, how many American lives could have been saved if sufficient safety measures were implemented?