Tackling the Covid-19 pandemic has been a whole-government struggle — and it’s not over yet. But public servants have found amusing ways to stop the spread and promote the vaccine.
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Here are 7 ways that creative, witty public servants have championed public health. Have you come across other examples? Let us know.
1. Pandemio, the aerobics-loving vaccine Panda mascot (Mexico) 🐼
If you’re waiting in line to get your vaccine in Mexico City and are starting to consider leaving, Pandemio the Panda is on hand to give you a pep talk, a dance, or an impromptu aerobics session.
Watch a video of Pandemio, and you’ll see why he’s getting so much love on social media.
2. Be lazy, save lives (Germany) 🛌
How can a citizen act heroically in the midst of a lockdown? By switching on the TV, putting their feet up, and doing absolutely nothing.
That’s the message of this public health broadcast, which imagines elderly German citizens explaining to their Grandchildren how they bravely did absolutely nothing during the war against Covid-19.
3. Weed, beer and donuts (USA) 🍩
Some people have needed a little extra nudge to persuade them to get vaccinated. Here are some of the slightly unusual incentives people were offered to roll up their sleeves.
4. Hire an influencer army (USA) 🤳
Social media influencers have been a key pawn in the spread of Covid information (and misinformation). The US government is making a concerted effort to have influencers advocate for vaccines instead of consumer products.
5. How far to social distance? 1.69 Danny Devito’s (Wales) 📏
In the town of Montgomery on the Wales/England border, you can find dozens of small (and at first, difficult to understand) measurements. 16,000,000 coronaviruses, 1.36 Danny Devitos and so on.
What do they mean? They’re all different ways of reminding people to stay 2 meters apart.
6. Wrestlers enforce mask compliance (Mexico) 🤼♂️
Mexican Lucha Libre wrestlers are famous for putting on masks and engaging in acrobatic violence. In this creative intervention, wrestlers have been tasked with using their fearsome reputation to help make sure that everyone is respectfully wearing masks in closed spaces. They’re stopping the spread, one headlock at a time.
7. Build a giant squid statue (Japan) 🦑
Noto, a town in Japan, attracted a lot of attention for spending an emergency Covid-19 grant on… a giant squid statue.
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