The COVID-19 pandemic has placed politicians, community leaders, and everyday citizens in a difficult position. Decisions need to be made, but are typically done so with incomplete information, and often with a sense of anxiety and urgency. We discuss how the pandemic has changed science, for better and for worse, how this change affects decision-making, and how it interrelates with broader social phenomenon, such as the hyperconnectivity of the information age and consequent spread of misinformation. Taken together, these issues place us at high risk for implementing poor policies and making dangerous decisions about personal safety. We end by considering some ways that science can be made more rigorous, in order to inform policies related to the pandemic and other social problems, how scientists may play a more active role in policy-decisions, and how citizens and community leaders can make better informed decisions themselves.