A lack of clarity about the purpose of stay-at-home orders and mixed messages from federal and state government officials have confused the public, contributing to social distancing fatigue.

“I think there’s been a real lack in clarity as to the goals, which — the orders have [been] clear, but it has not been clear for people about why they’re supposed to do it,” said Dr. Suzanne Judd, an epidemiologist at the University of Alabama Birmingham’s School of Public Health.