"Clear Scientific Communication is at the Heart of Public Trust The continuing COVID-19 pandemic impels the world to question how it will be possible to recover. Leaders attempt to boost confidence with “hopeful” messaging. But poor public understanding is beset by contradictions from public health officials. The tone of ambivalence from experts creates an appearance of half-truths and an approach of half measures. Making sense of the science requires embracing a level of uncertainty and the flexibility to change paradigms as better evidence emerges."