Credibility is important if the goal is getting widespread buy-in for a particular action. Playing games with the truth is destructive to credibility. It might

Credibility is important if the goal is getting widespread buy-in for a particular action. Playing games with the truth is destructive to credibility. It might work in the short term but works against your goals in the long term. This won't be the last pandemic and odds are that future pandemics will be worse. Destroying credibility to expediate the end of this pandemic ultimately will make the response to future pandemics less effective due to credibility destruction. Simply tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Word games, spin, and manipulation is ultimately self defeating. Stop doing it.