You could be right, and as far as I can tell - that's what we've done. But is it sustainable to lie to people in order to effect a desired (even if positive) c

You could be right, and as far as I can tell - that's what we've done. But is it sustainable to lie to people in order to effect a desired (even if positive) change? How long can it go on for before people just turn off? Maybe the answer is indefinitely. Empirically at least in my country this doesn't seem to be the case. I've heard this been described as "pandemic fatigue", but it seems to more revolve around taking orders than believing in or being concerned about the pandemic itself. People are willing to follow counterintuitive rules for a while, but eventually they need to understand some sort of final benefit derived. The vast majority of people don't get "not drinking bleach fatigue" because they know it's bloody awful and that if they don't drink it, they're gone.