Covid pandemic: The bad, the sad and the stupid

The aviation industry was decimated when global travel ground to a halt. Around the world, Covid claimed almost 22 airlines and in South Africa, Mango, Comair’s British Airways franchise and Kulula died agonising deaths.

South African Airways, already in business rescue, was hovering in limbo as it continued to drain the fiscus with publicity stunt charters and repatriations at the height of the pandemic.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 survivors tell of living with PTSD, anxiety and fear

Travel, tourism and hospitality shed thousands of jobs.

Ivermectin for Covid

Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication for animals, was punted as a Covid-resistant drug and vets and unscrupulous doctors couldn’t keep up with supply. In hindsight, its use was even more idiotic, given that Covid is a virus.

Online dating and remote relationships became the norm and sites like Tinder reported massive surges in membership, with bored singles and naughty others swiping left and right.

ALSO READ: Equipment salvaged from abandoned R700m Covid hospital

Several celebrities and politicians succumbed to the virus including Shona Ferguson, Tshepo Tshola, journalist Karima Brown and SA ambassador to Denmark Zinzi Mandela. It’s a long list. Global stars included Jessica Campbell, Mark Blum and US Secretary of State under the Bush administration Colin Powell.

Looting

In South Africa, the pandemic presented an opportunity to loot state coffers. The procurement of personal protective equipment launched a blitzkrieg of mammoth proportions on the public purse.

In some instances, surgical masks were sold to government departments for thousands of rands while ad agencies like Digital Vibes coined it with lucrative contracts from less than honest politicians. It helped the fish rot, faster.

 ALSO READ: R500m ‘blown’ on AngloGold hospital, and it only has ‘six patients’