I want to make clear up front that I do not intend by the following remarks to promote or defend any particular position in the context of the current pandemic crisis. Instead, I just wanted to point out an important factor that underlies the debate over what our proper course of action should be but that seems to be stated only indirectly or not stated at all.
The expression “Elephant in the room” refers to the idea that there is a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but that is avoided as a subject for discussion because it is more comfortable to do so.
