Risk Communication Should be Explicit About Values. A Perspective on Early Communication During COVID-19

The authors argue that being explicit about values (e.g., condemning stigmatization and racism, clarifying whether stockpiling supplies is warranted) can help communicate risk with empathy and encourage self-determination during an emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors also emphasize the need to communicate early and often to improve the response to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.