May 11, 2021 ☼ europe ☼ pandemic
Source: POLITICO - Link
But the main reason is political: Their recent pandemic response was shaped by a strong preference among policymakers to opt for populist quick fixes rather than make tough calls based on science. In many cases, leaders have picked fights with public health experts for perceived political gain and cut corners when enacting pandemic regulations — all of which has made their citizens less willing to follow the rules.
The same mistakes are being made here. When another variant shows its face, we’ll be less inclined to treat it seriously. Rinse and repeat.