Or perhaps they have radically different values and think one preventable death is one too many or perhaps they know a lot less about economics than random HN or perhaps they just don’t want to be blamed when more people die (even if it’s the right choice). Opening up society is a fundamentally political decision that I’m not personally willing to cede to unelected scientists.

You didn't cede it to unelected scientists. You ceded it to elected executive-branch officials, who then pick staff to work for them. If you don't like that, you can try to recall the mayor and/or the governor.

don't addicts die all day everyday in the streets of SanFran? I think the authorities are so timid because they know it can happen to them and they're terrified.

There were about 320 overdose deaths in San Francisco last year, so close to one a day.

yes but not to the extent it cripples our healthcare system. That's what they're dealing with here. Addiction isn't contagious.

If that is the case then they could communicate that plan a little better. At the end of the day it's their fault if people don't understand why they are taking the actions they are.

They are understandable but vague.

They should describe in detail when things will reopen and what metrics they’ll use to make that decision.

It's an evolving situation. If they say precise but later-incorrect things, people will get mad. And a lot of the work they're doing is consensus-building, which is always mushy. Vague is fine with me right now if that's all they have.

Proper communication would be written, concise, detailed and clear. These endless press conferences are none of those things.

I doubt it, they don’t teach you much actual science while you are working on a poli-sci major.

Good thing that's not who staffs and runs public health departments.