Corona Cures and time-release placebos.
The propagation of rumors about cures, vaccines, treatments and so on helps to release the pressure on a demand for real immediate action, which may not be either likely or even possible. You don't need everyone to accept these snake oil remedies, just enough of them so the total outrage at a lack of action is minimized. And with a ready market of Deplorables antsy to hear the news, any news, from their Leader, (not to mention a right wing press desperate for good news of any sort) the lid can be kept on even longer.
This is cynicism of truly cosmological proportions.