COVID-19 communications have been fragmented, disjointed and often supported by questionable evidence.  Governments have been using the pandemic to explore expansion of powers, specifically under public health orders, to immediately influence public behaviour.  To some extent this is warranted, but government's have never given up these powers easily when the emergency passes.  Will western governments cede these powers back to society post pandemic, or "for the good of society" these powers will remain in place until we come out the other end and "build back better".  
I offer an explanation as to why the government's communication strategies have been a failure, recommendations on how to succeed and to regain trust of the public.
Conspiracy theories evolve from unaddressed communication gaps - the government allows them to fester and dismisses all theories as they emerge.  To dismiss is to fuel, that is basic communications 101.  Hence, we have growing evidence of a lack of trust in government communications.  Lets get at it....and don't call me right wing because I disagree...