It can. But there are some things we know (after reading enough material).

1) SARS-COV-2 is related to SARS, and we know a LOT about SARS. (In fact, this infection was referred to as "SARS" by WHO and the Chinese up until mid-January of this year.)
2) SARS-COV-2 is a corona virus, and we know a LOT about corona virus'. (This is what is driving all the "conspiracy talk" - we know how these infections spread from animal to human - and it is not an easy transition. The research going on in Wuhan was looking into how to make such virus jump to humans easier, the stated purpose was to learn more how to stop it.)
3) SARS-COV-2 is a VIRUS and we certainly know a lot about virus in general. (NO virus can withstand UV radiation, for example. As to temperature and humidity, well, various virus' will have widely different tolerances - HIV, for example, cannot survive outside of a very limited temperature range - hence the reason you cant spread it without essentially intimate contact.)

As to your statements about the media (and how unreliable information from the media is), I certainly agree. But I don't get my information from the media. I have not owned a TV since 2008, I do not watch TV news and don't listen to news on the radio outside of very limited sources - and even those, I question ever word I hear. I gather information from sources, based on who I believe is capable of first-hand or near first hand information. FOR EXAMPLE: I get my information on SARS-COV-2 from:

1) WHO (I don't really trust them, but by watching what they have been saying since January 2, I think I have gathered a lot of information, even from them, and yes, even tho they lied and "carried the water" for the CCP.)
2)) The Chinese (Again, don't trust them, but by listening to them since mid January, tracking how they change their story, etc., I think I have gleaned a lot from them.)
3) My three friends who are qualified to explain this stuff (a bio-chemist, a chemical engineer and a close friend of generic description.)
4) My doctors. (Both GP and cardiologist)
5) The Italians, Swedes, Australians, etc.
6) A few conspiracy-friendly persons. (I question every thing they say, same as 1 to 5 above, as great counsel is found in many advisors, even those I think I disagree with; if an argument can't withstand the critique of a critic, the argument is not solid. All things are possible, but not all things are reasonable.)


I also use my own eyes to evaluate what is going on. For example, we now know:

1) The infection is real and certainly is dangerous to the aged - the aged with vulnerabilities are at great risk.
2) And yet, the lethality of the infection was exaggerated. (I was exposed in February, as it moved thru the office, two ladies got very sick, none of the rest of us did.)
3) The virus has mutated more than expected, personally, I still cant resolve if the worst strains are the original strains or are mutations.
4) The advent of summer (higher temps, higher UV) is slowing the spread. (I said it over and over again, look at the world map - it was summer in the southern Hemisphere when this broke out in December/January - look at where the infections were worse: The Northern Hemisphere.)

IS this really over our heads, as you say? Well, sure. But this is not stuff we cannot learn - if we could not learn this stuff, sending kids to school would be a waste of time - we CAN learn about anything. But googling "COVID" is a waste of time, you are filtering OUT all the fundamental information you are looking for. Iv'e personally learned a lot since January 2. Again, NO virus can tolerate UV radiation; this is fundamental. Don't google "Corona" to learn about this, read generic papers on virus' and corona virus'. If you filter for papers released before summer 2019, you will filter out that which has been published recently, which is understandably focused on SARS-COV-2.

I refuse to be told what to think, or what to fear, or what to do. I have spent countless hours since this started (for me, that was January 2) trying to learn all I could. I've not missed ONE DAY of work - I don't wear a mask but I do follow hand washing and some distancing guidelines. I also am taking Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D and D3 in quantities that my research says I should be. (I actually take all of that all the time, except for C and D3.)

Were I off work the past two months, I'd know a LOT more than I do - but I have limited time, as Im working MORE hours now than I was before March 19. Knowledge IS power, but as you have said, watching TV news is not any way to gain knowledge.