One of the issues with how it was handled was the handwavy and contradictory information that many governments and public health czars circulated: that handwash

One of the issues with how it was handled was the handwavy and contradictory information that many governments and public health czars circulated: that handwashing is most important, that masks are effective or not effective or only some kinds are, that the lockdown will be "two weeks to slow the spread" and so forth. It was the public health equivalent of "take two asprin and call in the morning". While there were successes for sure, clear and consistent communication was not among them.