It's been almost a year since the coronavirus broke out in China. Our lives have really changed during the pandemic but we humans are pretty good at adapting. While the deadly disease is still claiming many lives worldwide, Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the first 'milestone' vaccine which can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid. They hope to be able to supply 50 million doses by the end of this year, and around 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.
Until then, the vast majority of people continue being vulnerable to a coronavirus infection and it is only the restrictions on our lives that are preventing more of us from dying. However, some nutbags still can't understand the severity of the situation. What's even more incredible, they use the Internet to broadcast their absurd thoughts. Covid is just flu, they say, masks won't help.
Luckily, someone usually responds to these folks with facts and logic. Continue scrolling and check out some of the best covidiot takedowns to date.
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A poll by YouGov and the Economist in March 2020 found 13% of Americans believed the Covid-19 crisis was a hoax, while a whopping 49% thought the epidemic might be man-made. And while you might hope that greater brainpower or education would help us to tell fact from fiction, it's relatively easy to find examples of many educated people falling for this false information.
Take the writer Kelly Brogan, a prominent Covid-19 conspiracy theorist, for example. She has a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and studied psychiatry at Cornell University. That's quite a resume. Yet she has shunned clear evidence of the virus's danger in countries like China and Italy. If that's not enough, she even questioned the basic tenets of germ theory while endorsing pseudoscientific ideas.
Of course, it simply isn't true. General practitioner, medical researcher, and founder of PrimeHealth Clinical Research, Iris Gorfinkel, M.D., told Bored Panda it's important to remember that Covid is not just a flu. "It's not actually just a respiratory illness, it needs to be understood as a multi-system disease," Gorfinkel said. "So once it's inhaled, goes into the nose, it can damage the nerves right off the bat, so people can lose their sense of smell and taste. And that can actually last for months. The virus can [also] be swallowed. 20% of individuals present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their first clue that something is wrong. Yes, it can cause a runny nose, sore throat and cough, fever, and headaches. But we also know that it can cause significant hematologic problems, including the risk for stroke, that goes up significantly. And we've heard about Covid toes happening. That's not just in children, it can happen in adults as well. It's a pro-inflammatory disease, it's a disease that causes an increase in stroke risk."
Science writer David Robson thinks these gaps in our collective knowledge of the disease could be due to information overload. The media bombards the public with news regarding the pandemic all day, every day, and we therefore often rely on our intuition to decide whether something is accurate or not. "Purveyors of fake news can make their message feel 'truthy' through a few simple tricks, which discourages us from applying our critical thinking skills—such as checking the veracity of its source. As the authors of one paper put it: 'When thoughts flow smoothly, people nod along.'"
According to Robson, the route organizations could take in order to open the eyes of these confused individuals is simple: they should present the facts as simply as possible. Preferably, with images, graphs, and other aids that make the ideas easier to digest. These campaigns should avoid repeating the myths themselves. "The repetition makes the idea feel more familiar, which could increase perceptions of truthiness," Robson said. "That's not always possible, of course. But campaigns can at least try to make the true facts more prominent and more memorable than the myths, so they are more likely to stick in people’s minds. (It is for this reason that I’ve given as little information as possible about the hoax theories in this article.)"
Gorfinkel agrees with this line of thinking. "Instead of calling [out] misinformation, try to give ... good information and fill in the gaps in people's knowledge."
Wear Mask Please
If He Were Here He'd Consume These Morons With Fireballs From His Eyes And Bolts Of Lightning From His Arse
Hillary Clinton Going In For The Kill
Hey, that's not fair. No one explained Trump what sunglasses are and how he should use them. How can you use sunglasses without a manual? /S
In A Discussion Over The Value Of Face Masks During Covid
The people going on about "doing research" don't even actually have the skills to do it properly or the ability to correctly read and interpret what they get.
Rip Cooper’s Dog, And Eric
I work with a professor who is 88 years old. He also doesn't understand why everyone is making such a fuss about Corona. But the man has also experienced a world war and economic crises, and has also lived his life. Many older people know that their life is finite and have come to terms with it. Sometimes you have to protect these people from themselves. This does not mean, however, that they do not nevertheless belong to the risk group. Quite the opposite. Displacement is not proof of the non-existence of something.
Someone On The Walmart Social Media Team Has Had Enough Of Covidiots
We Need Certainty, Think Of The Children
Hi Laura. New Zealand’s outbreak HAS ended. You watched videos of how we did it, but you turned your nose up because it was a librul method.
It’s Crazy That People Still Think Covid Is As Harmless As The Flu. It’s Just Flabbergasting To Me
I like comments that were comparing 4 months worth of covid vs annual data for everything else. at 245 000 dead in 9 months, it is more than all that person listed combined.
In Response To Walmart Requiring Masks For All. Hope He Can Get Burn Cream From A Store Without A Mask.
Tom Wolf Is The Governor Of Pennsylvania, Fyi. This Person Is Mad They Are Asked To Wear A Mask In Public
Found On Nextdoor Post About Covid-19
Kelly should feel ever so stupid now but she'll keep denying that there's a pandemic going on. Her next post will be a rant why she can't have a Covid-19 test and a ventilator because it's her goddamn constitutional right.
My Friend’s Response To A Facebook Covid Post
Wear a Complex,weird looking mask for halloween?..hell yes. Wear a simple mask made from simple cloth and strap for Covid prevention?..hell no, i had my rights!!
On A Facebook Post About Schools Opening Up In The Fall
With children, it is less about fatal consequences and more about the fact that nobody knows what the long-term consequences really look like. Children usually survive a Covid infection very well. The problem is that nobody knows exactly what the effects of the infection will be in later years. It is now known that Covid can lead to temporary or permanent changes in lung tissue, the heart and probably the brain. I am not saying that we should hide our children. And I also see the danger of a lost generation. But that doesn't mean we should throw all caution to the wind. We owe it to our children to find a middle way. That is difficult enough, and sometimes maybe even impossible.
It's Simple Logic, And Therefore Completely Unfathomable
Comparing one problem with another to see which one is worse has always been a bad idea. The existence of one problem does not make another less important. In fact, there can be several problems at the same time, both equally bad or not, and you can fight both at the same time. That really works!
Coronavirus Side Effect: Major Burns
Three Words.
I personally don’t believe in god but I respect those who do. Yet I am driven mad by those who use there beliefs as a shield against criticism or science. (As a note, most people that I meet that believe in God are very awesome and generous people!) ps. sorry for the long post!
Murder By Words Covid 2nd Edition
There are just no words for the kind of stupid that reads "gas exchange" and thinks its putting gasoline in things
If You Share An Image That Can Result In Unsafe Practices Regarding Covid, Be Prepared To Be Called Out On It
All the pandemic has really done is shown how selfish so many people are
Covid Is Just A Flu
"I almost died but it's blown out of proportion and taking precautions is living in fear". Some people just deserve a Darwin award
We've Got A Man Down
Not Understanding Basic Info To Own The Libs
Oh dear God. I hear this one a lot. I have learned to reply like this: "Ever hear of Typhoid Mary? Made people sick but never was sick herself?" Ninety percent answer, "Oh yeah, I heard about that in school/onTV/etc.". Me: "OK, now pretend she's COvid Larry...."
Someone Suggested To Prep Younger Kids For Masks At School This Fall By Using Them At Home For Short Periods.
That Was A Good One
"Why is everyone panicking and crying that we're sinking? I'm here on the stern 150 feet above sea level and the music is playing. "
One Of The Best Responses To A "Corona Wont Kill Me So Why Should I Care??" Comment Ive Seen Yet.
Comments On A Post About A Local Business Shutting Down For A Positive Covid Employee
Why cover Shelly's name? It should be known that Shelly is on the cutting edge of Infectious disease research. You should know who to visit when you have an infectious disease. /S
On A Post Asking If Anti Vaxxers Would Want To Get The Covid-19 Vaccine If It Gets Released Officially
Person Comparing Covid And Flu Gets Owned By This Analogy
Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
People always act like death is the only consequence. We dont know the stuff that follows it. Multi-organ failure? Chronically damaged lungs? Immunsystem problems? But damn no, why care for that?
Medically, that's morbidity, rather than mortality. Morbidity rates are... not promising. Covid-19 could cripple the US for a generation simply b/c so many will suffer chronic health issues. *sigh*
We'll only know the far reaching effects COVID has in 5 years time, but people don't think ahead, they only care about themselves, now.
This pandemic has me torn about how I feel about people. On the one hand I am overcome at the resilience of society and how our young people stepped up to help out those people who were shielding without a murmur of complaint and without looking to be congratulated either. On the other hand I despair at the 'deniers' who think this is somehow just a conspiracy to mess up their day or whatever. The pandemic has polarised society into the sensible and the complete idiots..
The pandemic showed me there's genuine good left in the world...it also showed me my parents are morons and I have to seriously consider that relationship. . . Such interesting times we live in.
It wasn't the pandemic. People in powerful positions made it a political conspiracy and from that moment on the idiots went crazy. It really doesn't help when all scientists are warning that this virus is very dangerous and some Twitteranus keeps insisting that it's not that bad. He knew that this virus was bad, infectious and deadly but he lied about it because it would harm the economy if he had told the truth. Because nothing's more important than the stock market.
Not the pandemic. THE PEOPLE polarized themselves. To some, avoiding fear and change was more important than coping, and they deny; others decided to cope, b/c the consequences of denying were worse, in their opinions.
Wow, downvoted for the obvious. Thanks for that. *sigh*
I’m ashamed to say that early on I was in the “ugh it’s no worse than the flu and masks don’t help!” camp. But then people kept dying and I changed my tune. And now I’m terrified I’m going to catch it because the numbers are spiking and everybody is just giving up and not wearing masks anymore.
Oddly, Banjo, I was sort-of the other way 'round. I've believed in and worn a mask since the beginning, but I was quite smug about believing I'll be fine and not catch it. Now, however, with no sign of it going away and global deaths to date at almost 1.3million, I'm absolutely paranoid that I'm at risk - because of all the idiots who seem not to be able to see that people are dying in their thousands every day, and won't take any precautions at all. I'm genuinely starting to think it's only a matter of time before I get it.
The vaccine coming out is 90% effective, let's hope we get it (the vaccine) before it's too late.
People always act like death is the only consequence. We dont know the stuff that follows it. Multi-organ failure? Chronically damaged lungs? Immunsystem problems? But damn no, why care for that?
Medically, that's morbidity, rather than mortality. Morbidity rates are... not promising. Covid-19 could cripple the US for a generation simply b/c so many will suffer chronic health issues. *sigh*
We'll only know the far reaching effects COVID has in 5 years time, but people don't think ahead, they only care about themselves, now.
This pandemic has me torn about how I feel about people. On the one hand I am overcome at the resilience of society and how our young people stepped up to help out those people who were shielding without a murmur of complaint and without looking to be congratulated either. On the other hand I despair at the 'deniers' who think this is somehow just a conspiracy to mess up their day or whatever. The pandemic has polarised society into the sensible and the complete idiots..
The pandemic showed me there's genuine good left in the world...it also showed me my parents are morons and I have to seriously consider that relationship. . . Such interesting times we live in.
It wasn't the pandemic. People in powerful positions made it a political conspiracy and from that moment on the idiots went crazy. It really doesn't help when all scientists are warning that this virus is very dangerous and some Twitteranus keeps insisting that it's not that bad. He knew that this virus was bad, infectious and deadly but he lied about it because it would harm the economy if he had told the truth. Because nothing's more important than the stock market.
Not the pandemic. THE PEOPLE polarized themselves. To some, avoiding fear and change was more important than coping, and they deny; others decided to cope, b/c the consequences of denying were worse, in their opinions.
Wow, downvoted for the obvious. Thanks for that. *sigh*
I’m ashamed to say that early on I was in the “ugh it’s no worse than the flu and masks don’t help!” camp. But then people kept dying and I changed my tune. And now I’m terrified I’m going to catch it because the numbers are spiking and everybody is just giving up and not wearing masks anymore.
Oddly, Banjo, I was sort-of the other way 'round. I've believed in and worn a mask since the beginning, but I was quite smug about believing I'll be fine and not catch it. Now, however, with no sign of it going away and global deaths to date at almost 1.3million, I'm absolutely paranoid that I'm at risk - because of all the idiots who seem not to be able to see that people are dying in their thousands every day, and won't take any precautions at all. I'm genuinely starting to think it's only a matter of time before I get it.
The vaccine coming out is 90% effective, let's hope we get it (the vaccine) before it's too late.