Risk = Hazard + Outrage

The trajectory of the public’s reaction to the novel coronavirus has many analogs to models of risk. Over the years my thinking and experience of how people decide to pay attention to, understand and respond to risk jives with models by Covello and Sandman, 2001; Douglas, 1992; Slovic, 1999).  Particularly Sandman’s components list:

Most of the above are already in play. 

A big question is how Trump will respond to the nation’s needs and manage this potential disaster. Talk of “miracles” and a healthier virus-killing Spring is sure to yield much public outrage.