Irish Examiner view: How coronavirus surprised science

It is encouraging scientists shared their views on the mistakes they made

A group of seven leading international experts on Covid-19, interviewed by 'The Guardian', produced a fascinating menu of experiences which either surprised them, or about which they were initially wrong.

“Let us be guided by the science” was the mantra of every political leader and politician sent front-of-house to justify restrictions and reductions of liberty and livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fact that “the science” and “the data” were moving targets as evidence emerged and was parsed in different ways was understood by many at an intuitive level, and for much of the time citizens were prepared for lawmakers to err on the side of caution. But presenting “the science” as incontrovertible was always going to prove problematic, based, as the process is, on discovery, challenge, and being proved wrong.