Unraveling the politics behind our rides
COVID-19 is a new disease, so it’s natural that the understanding of the illness is constantly evolving as we learn more. But while many political figures have been more careful than others when addressing the nation, it’s no coincidence that the worst quotes are usually coming from leaders who totally bungled their coronavirus response.
Take a look at some of the most cringe-worthy (and worrying) statements from our political leaders. Click through the gallery to get started.
In Brazil, Bolsonaro stated that the same medicine was “working in all places.” So far there is only anecdotal evidence that the medication may help in some cases, and the unregulated use encouraged by world leaders could be dangerous.
On the other hand, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs, has been promoting the idea that the virus originated in the US, and was brought to Wuhan by the US military.
Serbia has been a hotbed of misinformation since the beginning of the outbreak. Prime Minister Ana Brnabić claimed that the government must hide the number of ventilators from the public as it’s 'a state secret in all countries.'
The government announced that they would be denying the right to walk pets, on the advice of their medical experts. However, one of the government epidemiologists stated that this advice was never given by them.
Several world leaders have spread false claims that pre-existing medications are effective in the treatment of coronavirus, despite lack of evidence. In the US, President Trump said that an anti-malaria medication seemed to be helping. "What do you have to lose? Take it." One man died after injecting himself with the drug, reportedly thinking it would protect him from the virus.
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, seems to be a bit confused about the nature of COVID-19. When discussing the tracing of the virus on Fox News, he said it was ridiculous that a huge tracing team was going to be employed. He claimed that it would be better to trace people with cancer or heart disease, as they are more fatal illnesses. He seemed to forget about the contagion factor...
Serbian minister of health Zlatibor Lončar stated that the coronavirus was milder than the flu, despite evidence that showed the mortality rate was several times higher.
President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte initially tried to downplay the situation, but later switched to an extreme response. He said that those who did not comply with the restrictions should be shot dead. “Instead of causing trouble, I’ll send you to the grave.” He was not kidding, as the death of a 63-year-old man revealed.
President Alexander Lukashenko has been the leader in Belarus since 1994. He initially claimed that the world was going mad for coronavirus. He encouraged his citizens to continue working, saying that tractors and fields would heal them.
His final piece of advice was that everyone should try to make it to the communal sauna three times per week. After leaving the sauna, it’s recommended to drink approximately three shots of vodka...
After deciding to lift restrictions in the UK and encouraging citizens to return to work, Boris Johnson stated that “British common sense” would beat coronavirus. The UK would go on to claim the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe.
He also suggested on May 11 that coronavirus flare-ups could be detected by testing the water supply. It was later confirmed by his administration that this was incorrect.
Brazil’s controversial leader, President Jair Bolsonaro, famously referred to the virus as a ‘little flu.’ He criticized the governors of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo for implementing restrictions in their states. He even encouraged citizens to defy the guidelines and go back to work.
In March, Bolsonaro claimed that Brazilians have some kind of immunity to disease that needs to be studied. His evidence was that people sometimes swim in the sewer without getting sick. This statement was made after 22 of his officials became ill with COVID-19 after a trip to the US.
She also suggested that Australia get rid of foreign aid and stop giving money to the WHO and the UN.
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia delayed his response to the virus, claiming that tropical weather would take care of it. He encouraged the country to pray instead, stating, "It's our nation's right to rely on the Almighty."
Australian Senator Pauline Hanson has been extremely vocal in her criticisms of the coronavirus response. She says it’s “completely over the top” to forbid people from going outside with their families for picnics.
Of course, that's not all. In a notorious press conference, Trump suggested that filling the body with tremendous light may be a cure for the coronavirus.
In the same press conference, Trump seemed to also misunderstand his own presentation slides about bleach being used as a cleaning fluid to kill the virus on surfaces. He suggested that injecting it would work to clean coronavirus out of the body.
Trump has continuously made false claims and underestimated the effect of the virus. In February, he said that the virus would miraculously go away by April, thanks to the warmer weather. “One day it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
He also stated that vodka could kill the virus. He recommended that his people should wash their hands with vodka and be sure to drink one to two shots per day (but not while working).
Trump also claimed that there had been widespread theft of facial masks as a way of explaining the shortage of protective gear in New York hospitals. He questioned if the masks were "out the back door.” There was no evidence to support this–the health care system was simply unprepared for the demand.
Brazilians were holding safe protests against their leader's response to the virus. At the same time every night, people would lean out of their windows and bang pots. Bolsonaro claimed that these protests were a shameless media-backed plot to take him down.
Similarly, many politicians have been quick to claim that the virus was man made by rival nations. The former deputy prime minister of Italy, Matteo Salvini, has been broadcasting conspiracy theories since the beginning of the outbreak. In one tweet, he said: "In 2015, the Chinese created a supercoronavirus with bats and mice!!!"
In return, republican senators in the US, such as Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz, have suggested that the virus escaped from a Wuhan lab. Despite all the claims, the general consensus amongst scientists is that the virus is not man-made.
See also: When will the coronavirus pandemic end?
Indian MP Subramanian Swamy took to Twitter to claim that the COVID-19 in India was a "less virulent mutation." This would suggest that the virus is more easily defeated by the body’s natural defences, and is therefore less dangerous. There’s no evidence to support this.
His claims were supported by another far-right Italian party leader, Giorgia Meloni. She criticized other European countries who praised China for their assistance with medical supplies, stating that it was the ‘communist regime’ in China that brought the virus about in the first place.
Coronavirus: The most outrageous comments from world politicians
These world leaders have started what the WHO calls an 'infodemic'
LIFESTYLE Pandemic
COVID-19 is a new disease, so it’s natural that the understanding of the illness is constantly evolving as we learn more. But while many political figures have been more careful than others when addressing the nation, it’s no coincidence that the worst quotes are usually coming from leaders who totally bungled their coronavirus response.
Take a look at some of the most cringe-worthy (and worrying) statements from our political leaders. Click through the gallery to get started.