Bizarre Conspiracy Theory Goes Viral
A video featuring a woman’s peculiar conspiracy theory about a supposed hidden meaning in the term “COVID-19” has gained significant attention online.
Comedy Duo Sparks Controversy
The footage was shared on Twitter by The Good Liars, a comedic team comprising Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler, on a Monday. They frequently conduct interviews with the public to gather opinions on contentious subjects, and this time they spoke to protestors from the Trucker Convoy in Washington.
Virality and Public Reaction
With over 1 million views, the video has drawn widespread ridicule in the comments, as viewers mock the woman’s claims. She asserted that the term COVID-19 is a coded phrase meaning “see sheep surrender,” a conspiracy theory debunked by Reuters as early as 2020.
Claims and Misinterpretations
In her explanation, the woman noted, “When it came out it was ‘corona’ right?” She elaborated on her interpretation of gematria, stating that “Corona” equates to 6-6-6 when calculated, leading to the conclusion that its name was deliberately changed to COVID-19 by right-wing individuals. However, “Corona” was simply a shorthand for “coronavirus,” rather than the official name.
Clarification of COVID-19 Naming
According to a Reuters fact-check, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses officially classified the virus as SARS-CV-2 on February 11, 2020, linking it to SARS based on genetic similarity. The CDC further clarified that COVID-19 stands for “coronavirus disease 2019,” breaking it down into its components: “CO” for corona, “VI” for virus, and “D” for disease.
Further Misunderstandings Addressed
The woman continued her thoughts by claiming that “[COVID-19], which is ‘C’, what is this see?” while gesturing as if to prompt viewers to look. She alleged that “Ovid” translates to sheep, mistaking the term as it refers to the Roman poet Ovid, not sheep—whose Latin translation is “ovis.” Additionally, her claim about “19” relating to military codes for surrender lacks clarity and verifiable sources.
Final Analysis and Conclusions
Reuters’ fact-check further explored the significance of the number 19 in history, noting its interpretation varied greatly among cultures. Ultimately, the investigation concluded that the conspiracy theory was unfounded, and the meaning of COVID-19 is accurately described as “coronavirus disease 2019.”
Newsweek has reached out to The Good Liars for additional comments and insights.
