Decisions such as closing schools, requiring masks, and issuing stay-at-home orders are unpopular. In the case of the COVID pandemic, the risks of such mandates for government officials were high given that so little was known about the virus early in the outbreak. Officials were reluctant to order a lockdown because if the measure proved unhelpful, or if the virus proved less deadly than predicted, the mistaken order would give their opponents ammunition—in effect, it could be political suicide.

The only people willing to act to meet the moment’s urgency—possibly the ones who understand it best—are paradoxically those who are not high-profile politicians and leaders. The reference to the book The Swine Flu Affair attests to the consequences of blowing the whistle if the public interprets it as premature.

Charity Dean exemplifies the bravery of a compassionate and focused expert who cares only about making the decision that causes the least harm overall. She doesn’t prioritize her public image or future job prospects over decisions she considers necessary. By comparison, the Wolverines don’t have to consider public opinion as much because they’re not high enough in the chain of command to worry about their reputations.