Author: theauthor2022

Categories
Pandemic Virus

End-demic

Following on from yesterday’s blog, a variation of the word “Endemic” has appeared. Spelled out as “End-demic,” this is a play on words to mean the pandemic is over, life has gone back to normal, and the virus has become endemic, meaning it’s prevalent in society but not disruptive to people’s lives and most individuals have developed immunity to Covid-19 or been vaccinated against it.

The term is too new to have appeared in Google Trends or the Urban Dictionary or any dictionary for that matter but it has appeared in a few online articles, usually within the title. Here are a few examples:

Ian Mount, a writer for Fortune.com, wrote an article on January 11, 2022 entitled “Spain suggests a radical ‘end-demic’ approach to Omicron: Just treat it like the flu.”

An article published on January 13, 2022 for the website SeekingAlpha was entitled “Wall Street Breakfast: End-Demic.” It poses the question “How and when will the pandemic be over?”

On February 21, 2022 an article entitled “Working Towards The “End-Demic” was published on TotalFood.com. In writing for the restaurant industry, the author says “With an eye towards what we are calling the ‘End-Demic’ there is cause for restaurants and operators to be cautiously optimistic. The industry has survived two years that many could never imagine. Many of these strategies we used as an industry will serve a building blocks for the restaurant industry’s future” (TotalFood.com).

A tweet from KFBK News Radio featured a poll asking readers if they think it’s time to consider the Covid-19 pandemic as an “end-demic. 88% of respondents said “Yes.”


The term “end-demic” appears on apparel. Online store RedBubble.com is selling T-shirts with an “End-demic” motif.

Classic T-Shirt
End-demic T-shirts

And finally, never let an “End-demic” go to waste. One UK company created an End-Demic Party website, selling party favors and decorations. The theme reflects the mood of those who yearn to go out and celebrate with family and friends after spending over a year cooped up in lockdown and quarantine.

celebrate the “End-Demic” with a party!

Social Media Trends as of May 17, 2022

Facebook #enddemic: people are posting about this
Instagram #enddemic: 38 posts
TikTok #enddemic: 16,300 views
YouTube #enddemic: less than 100 videos and channels

Google Trends: enddemic appeared as a blip in March 2020 and peaked during the week of January 16, 2022 as people were hoping that the pandemic was in its endgame.

enddemic search term

Sources:

“End-demic” motif. RedBubble.com. URL: https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/End-Demic-by-ArtToons/50244261.FB110.

“End-Demic Party.” End-Demic Party. 23 May 2021. URL: https://www.facebook.com/putski77.

“John McGinness Poll Question.” Twitter.com. KFBK News Radio. February 1, 2022. URL: https://twitter.com/kfbk/status/1488639156066549761?ref_src=twsrc
%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1488639156066549761%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fkfbk.iheart.com%2Ffeatured
%2Fjohn-mcginness%2Fcontent%2F2022-02-01-mcginness-poll-question-should-covid-be-considered-an-end-demic-yet%2F.

Meister Seelig & Fein LLP. “Working Towards The ‘End-Demic.’” TotalFood.com. February 21, 2022. URL: https://totalfood.com/working-towards-the-end-demic/.

Mount, Ian. “Spain suggests a radical ‘end-demic’ approach to Omicron: Just treat it like the flu.” Fortune.com. January 11, 2022. URL: https://fortune.com/2022/01/11/flu-omicron-spain-eu-covid-endemic/.

“Wall Street Breakfast: End-Demic.” SeekingAlpha.com. January 13, 2022. URL: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4479475-wall-street-breakfast-end-demic.

Categories
Pandemic Virus

Epidemic, Pandemic and Endemic

I decided to make one blog post for the terms Epidemic, Pandemic and Endemic rather than have separate posts for each of them. It makes sense to discuss all the terms together in one post as there are important differences between all three terms and all of them involve the spread of infectious disease.

Dictionary.com defines these terms as follows: “An epidemic involves the wide-ranging spread of a disease throughout an entire area or particular community where it’s not permanently prevalent. A pandemic involves an even wider spread, often reaching across the entire world. The word endemic is used to describe a disease that persistently and regularly spreads within a particular area or region (that is, it never fully goes away)—for example, the flu is considered endemic in many places. The COVID-19 virus is not yet considered endemic, but medical experts expect that it eventually will become endemic.”

To expound upon these terms a bit further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define an epidemic as a sudden increase in infections above what would be considered normal for a population in a particular geographic area. Consider a situation where there is an outbreak of measles in a school. The disease is quickly spread by coughing and sneezing and before long measles has spread throughout the town the school is located in. Because measles is a highly contagious disease, it doesn’t take long for the virus to cross geographical boundaries into nearby towns and then counties. The disease has now become an epidemic (Level of disease).

China was the first country to experience the Covid-19 virus. This rapidly infectious disease spread to other provinces in China and then spread to other countries. It arrived in the United States at the beginning of January 2020. Since then it has spread throughout the world and the level of the disease is that of a pandemic. Covid-19 has infected and killed millions of people across the globe.

When Covid-19 has a constant presence in a particular geographical area but is not causing disruptions to daily life, as has previously been the case with lockdowns and quarantine, then the level of the disease is said to be endemic. This is due to the fact that most people would have been infected with the virus and developed natural immunity and also because many people were vaccinated against Covid-19. In an article for the CNBC Health and Science column, Holly Ellyat writes that the “Professor David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that ‘the U.K is the closest to any country in being out of the pandemic if it isn’t already out of the pandemic and having the disease as endemic.'”

Social Media Trends as of May 17, 2022

Facebook #epidemic: 39,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #epidemic: 279,085 posts
TikTok #epidemic: 355.8 million views
YouTube #epidemic: 15,000 videos and 5,900 channels

Facebook #pandemic: 1,100,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #pandemic: 5,361,938 posts
TikTok #pandemic: 4.5 billion views
YouTube #pandemic: 140,000 videos and 62,000 channels

Facebook #endemic: 16,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #endemic: 131,934 posts
TikTok #endemic: 32.6 million views
YouTube #endemic: 1,000 videos and 694 channels

Google Trends

The search term epidemic peaked during the week of March 15, 2020 before tailing off in June that year.

epidemic search term

The pandemic search term also peaked in popularity during the week of March 15, 2020, which is very similar to the “epidemic” search term.

pandemic search term

The popularity of the search term endemic also peaked around the same time as the terms epidemic and pandemic but didn’t completely tail off. As Covid-19 infected more and more of the population, medical experts suggested that the disease would become endemic in the population.

endemic search term

Sources:

Ellyat, Holly. “UK could be among the first countries to emerge from Covid pandemic, top scientist says.” CNBC.com. Jan 12, 2022. URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/12/uk-could-be-first-country-to-emerge-from-pandemic-expert-says.html.

‘Epidemic’ vs. ‘Pandemic’ vs. ‘Endemic’: What Do These Terms Mean?” Dictionary.com. January 20, 2022. URL: https://www.dictionary.com/e/epidemic-vs-pandemic/.

“Level of disease. Section 11: Epidemic Disease Occurrence.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 18, 2012. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html.

Categories
Pandemic Virus

“Stay home, save lives”

The phrase “Stay home, save lives” started to enter public consciousness by the end of March 2020 when the pandemic was in full swing and state and local governments mandated lockdowns, stay-at-home orders and quarantine measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 and keep people safe.

The earliest mention of the phrase I could find was a March 30, 2020 article written by Natalie Daher for the website NowThisNews.com. She writes: “In a bleak 30-second video, a government-led public health campaign in Oregon lays out the stark facts of the coronavirus pandemic, while making a blanket advisory for residents to stay home: ‘Don’t accidentally kill someone.’ The public service announcement is part of a wider campaign called “Stay Home, Save Lives,” as confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. skyrocket, with hot spots in the Pacific Northwest, New York State, and Louisiana.“

During the opening months of the pandemic, a number of people got creative in their efforts to encourage others to “stay home.” One website contained instructions on how to add a “stay home” photo frame to your Facebook profile picture to support “the fight against Covid-19” (Shaul). Badges, T-shirts and stickers started to appear with variations of the “Stay home” slogan.

Facebook photo frame

There were those who could not “stay home” to save lives because they were out saving other lives. These were the front-line doctors and nurses of hospitals and other medical facilities who were saving the lives of patients diagnosed with Covid-19. There were those working in supermarkets and other retail stores who provided us with groceries and essentials during lockdown. Let’s not forget the utility workers and truckers too.

Social Media Trends as of May 16, 2022

Facebook #stayhomesavelives: 350,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #stayhomesavelives: 787,735 posts
TikTok #stayhomesavelives: 165.7 million views
YouTube #stayhomesavelives: 7,400 videos and 3,100 channels

Google Trends: stay home save lives appeared during the week of March 15, 2020 when the pandemic reached the United States and state governments were launching media campaigns to encourage residents to stay home. The popularity of the term waned in the following weeks as the message sunk in.

“stay home save lives” search term

Sources:

Daher, Natalie. “You Have To See This State’s Gripping Coronavirus PSA.” NowThisNews. Group Nine Media. March 30, 2020. URL: https://nowthisnews.com/news/oregon-coronavirus-psa-urges-residents-to-stay-home-save-lives.

Hendydraw. “I can’t stay home. I’m a nurse” short design. BuyTShirtDesigns.net. April 4, 2020. URL: https://www.buytshirtdesigns.net/t-shirt-design/i-cant-stay-home-im-a-nurse-shirt-design-png-buy-t-shirt-design-artwork/.

Shaul, Brandy. “Facebook: Here’s How to Add a Stay Home Frame to Your Profile Picture.” Adweek.com. May 4, 2020. URL: https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/facebook-heres-how-to-add-a-stay-home-frame-to-your-profile-picture/.

Categories
Pandemic Pandemic Art

Quaranteen

No, its not “quarantine.” Having teens myself, I can vouch that this is a word I’ve used and not one I made up. It appears in the online Macmillan Dictionary as “a teenager who survived Covid-19 or a child who survived and became a teenager in this decade.” The entry has an example of how the term is used: “The quaranteens, Jed and Joe, were finally let out of isolation after the virus outbreak.”

The term has made its way into mainstream media. An article written by Susan Leighton for the website Fandom says “Michael Myers has been trying to stay busy since being sidelined due to COVID-19. Quaranteen, a fun video spoof takes a look at the horror icon behind closed doors.”

Mike Myers in “Quaranteen”

During lockdown, nine teenagers in the United States decided to write a collaborative book entitled “QuaranTEEN” which describes their experiences during lockdown. The book was published on August 17, 2020 and can be ordered from Amazon. The introduction is as follows: “In March 2020, the United States effectively shut down. A new coronavirus, COVID-19, swept the globe and everyone was told to stay at home until further notice. Although the unprecedented quarantine affected everyone, there was one group that seemed particularly impacted–teenagers. No longer able to go to school, participate in sports, or visit with their friends, the situation was a significant challenge for them.This collaborative book was created to give teens a positive, proactive project during this time…Each of their stories provides their unique perspective of this moment in time as well as the lessons they have learned along the way.“

In 2020 two teens living in the San Francisco Bay Area created Quaranteen.net, a resource to “provide a creative outlet for children, teenagers, and adults to share their projects, hobbies, and boredom busters, a place for working parents to share tips on childcare and find activities/videos for their kids, and a place to provide guidelines on how to stay safe during this time, as well as links and resources on how you can volunteer or what you can do to help people during the pandemic.” The website has a section for individuals to blog about their experiences. Even though lockdowns have been lifted in the United States, they are still in effect in other countries and you never know when they may be mandated here again, so this is website is a good resource.

Social Media Trends as of May 16, 2022

Facebook #quaranteen: 15,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #quaranteen: 32,837 posts
TikTok #quaranteen: 21.7 million views
YouTube #quaranteen: 393 videos and 155 channels

Google Trends: quaranteen appeared as a small blip on Google Trends during February 2020. This was probably because Covid-19 appeared in China before it spread to the United States and this country was the first to implement mandatory quarantine procedures. When the pandemic reached America the following month, the popularity of the term quickly went vertical, reaching its peak during the week of March 15, 2020, when the U.S. implemented quarantine mandates, stay-at-home orders and virtual school.

quaranteen search term

Sources

Leighton, Susan. “Michael Myers stars in Quaranteen: The night he stayed home.” Fansided. Minute Media. 2021. URL: https://1428elm.com/2020/07/06/michael-myers-quaranteen-stayed-home/.

Myers, Mike. “Quaranteen.” YouTube. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6zzrfPd7Z8.

“Quaranteen.” MacMillan Dictionary. Submitted by Elinor. April 6, 2020. URL: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/quaranteen.

“QuaranTEEN: Our New Normal: Nine Teenagers Share Their Experience of a Worldwide Pandemic.” Authors: Kelli O’Brien Corasanti, Brady Durkin, Eva Fahrenkrog, Brook Holman, Lauren Kern, Chase Lormand, Chris Selvarajah, Jeremy Selvarajah, Helen Treacy, Mia Conca. Independently published (August 17, 2020). URL: https://www.amazon.com/QuaranTEEN-Teenagers-Experience-Worldwide-Pandemic/dp/B08FSMPK21.

“QuaranTEEN.” 2020. URL: https://www.qteen.net/.

Categories
Pandemic Vaccine

Efficacy

Efficacy is defined as “the ability, especially of a medicine or a method of achieving something, to produce the intended result” (Cambridge Dictionary).

When used in connection with vaccines, it refers to the reduction in percentage of the number of cases in a group of vaccinated people compared to a group of unvaccinated people. Wikipedia explains the difference between vaccine efficacy and vaccine effectiveness: “For example, a vaccine efficacy or effectiveness of 80% indicates an 80% decrease in the number of disease cases among a group of vaccinated people compared to a group in which nobody was vaccinated. When a study is carried out using the most favorable, ideal or perfectly controlled conditions,[1] such as those in a clinical trial, the term ‘vaccine efficacy‘ is used.[2] On the other hand, when a study is carried out to show how well a vaccine works when they are used in a bigger, typical population under less-than-perfectly controlled conditions, the term ‘vaccine effectiveness‘ is used.

A recent report on vaccine efficacy in children and adolescents says that “during the Omicron-predominant period, December 19, 2021-February 17, 2022, vaccine efficacy was 40% against hospitalization, 79% against critical COVID-19, and 20% against noncritical COVID-19 for adolescents 12-18 years of age. Among the children 5-11 years old, vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was 68%” (Cosdon).

Social Media Trends as of May 12, 2022

Facebook #efficacy: 4,400 people are posting about this
Instagram #efficacy: 14,873 posts
TikTok #efficacy: 1.2 million views
YouTube #efficacy: 370 videos and 253 channels

Google Trends: although the term efficacy isn’t new, it peaked in popularity during the week of February 28, 2021 which coincides with the time that Covid-19 vaccines started to become widely available.

efficacy search term

Sources

Cosdon, Nina. “Pfizer Vaccine Efficacy in Children and Adolescents During Delta and Omicron.” ContagionLive.com. March 31, 2022. URL: https://www.contagionlive.com/view/pfizer-vaccine-efficacy-in-children-and-adolescents-during-delta-and-omicron.

“Efficacy.” Cambridge Dictionary. URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/efficacy.

Wikipedia contributors. “Vaccine efficacy.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 Mar. 2022. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_efficacy.

Categories
Pandemic Virus

Social distancing

Everyone by now understands what social distancing is. It is sometimes referred to as physical distancing. The phrase did not enter public consciousness until the pandemic came to America in March 2020. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance (such as six feet or more) from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.” Social distancing is sometimes referred to as physical distancing.

The CDC expounds on the social distancing phrase as “an essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing is reducing physical interaction between people and it lowers the chances of spreading illness between people. If you are not fully vaccinated, practice social distancing by putting space (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others. It is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.“

After the initial outbreak of Covid-19, social distancing signs started to appear everywhere, even as decals on shop floors in the supermarket.

Social distancing decals on the shop floor of a Whole Foods Market in Toronto

Here are a couple of photos I took of social distancing signs during my trips to Idaho and Alaska. The photo below was taken in Idaho located just before the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The sign adds an interesting word play as social distancing would definitely apply to wild animals like bears and buffalo.

Social distancing sign In Idaho near the entrance to Yellowstone National Park
Social distancing sign in Anchorage, Alaska

Social distancing can lead to emotional distancing. Working and studying remotely can lead to isolation. Stay in touch with friends and family using the technologies available. Call a mental health professional if you find yourself getting depressed.

Social Media Trends as of May 11, 2022

Facebook #socialdistancing: 3.4 million are posting about this
Instagram #socialdistancing: 12.8 million posts
TikTok #socialdistancing: 5 billion views
YouTube #socialdistancing: 165,000 videos and 36,000 channels

Google Trends: “socialdistancing” wasn’t even a phrase before the pandemic. It appeared in Google Trends during the week of March 8, 2020 which coincided with the arrival of Covid-19. The popularity of the phrase went vertical two weeks later and finally peaked during the week of March 29, 2020 before tailing off that summer as most people by then knew what social distancing meant. The phrase entered popular culture in the spring of that year when country music singer, Luke Combs, wrote a song called “Six Feet Apart.“

social distancing search term

Sources

Sikander, Iqbal. “Social distancing markers at a Whole Foods Market.” Wikipedia. May 1, 2020. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing#/media/File:Whole_Foods_Market_-_Toronto_-_20200501110408_(cropped).jpg.

“Social distancing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 25, 2021. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/tribal/social-distancing.html#:~:text=Social%20distancing%20is%20an%20essential,spreading%20COVID-19..

“Social distancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20distancing.

Categories
Pandemic Art

“Six Feet Apart”

“I miss my mom, I miss my dad
I miss the road, I miss my band
Giving hugs and shaking hands
It’s a mystery I suppose
Just how long this thing goes
But there’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows
And there will be light after dark
Someday when we aren’t six feet apart“

Excerpt from “Six Feet Apart” by Luke Combs


Written during the early stages of the pandemic, when lockdown, quarantine and social distancing were quickly becoming the norm, Luke Combs and his band members wrote the song “Six Feet Apart” over Zoom on April 14, 2020. Combs was initially apprehensive about the song because it sounded “too cheesy” but after uploading an acoustic rendition of the song to YouTube it became a hit and more than 2 million people viewed it (Wikipedia).

I remember hearing this song for the first time on the radio while I was driving to Yellowstone National Park. It’s quite possibly one of the first songs to be written with the pandemic in mind and expresses the frustration and sadness caused by social distancing measures and restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Six Feet Apart by Luke Combs

An online BBC news article reports some interesting background information about the origins of “Six Feet Apart”. Concerning the song, Combs said that “the anthem almost came about by accident. ‘That writing session was already booked before the Covid stuff happened, but my mind had been on it,’ he says. ‘The night before, I texted the guys and said, ‘Hey, man, should we do something where we address the elephant in the room?’ And they were like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect because we’ve got this title, Six Feet Apart’. ‘So, somehow, we ended up being on the same page, and I think we wrote it in maybe two hours'” (Savage).


Social Media Trends as of May 11, 2022

Facebook #sixfeetapart: 33,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #sixfeetapart: 96,119 posts
TikTok #sixfeetapart: 30.9 million views
YouTube #sixfeetapart: 290 videos and 213 channels

Google Trends: “six feet apart” became popular during the week of March 15, 2020. During the pandemic, staying six feet apart was the minimum distance to be kept between people for social distancing. When Luke Combs released his hit song on YouTube the following month, the popularity of this term exploded and reached its peak during the week of May 9, 2020.

Six Feet Apart search term

Sources

Combs, Luke. “Six Feet Apart.” Wikipedia. Last updated: September 30, 2021. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Feet_Apart.

Combs, Luke. “Six Feet Apart.” YouTube. The World Music Star channel. URL: https://youtu.be/dxKfYgnk72Q.

Savage, Mark. “Luke Combs dissects his lockdown anthem Six Feet Apart, one year later.” BBC.com. 27 May 2021. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57257580.

Categories
Pandemic

Covidiot

My last blog entry was about the derogatory term “Maskhole.” Today’s post looks at the origins of the insult “Covidiot.” The Merriam Webster online dictionary didn’t have a definition for this term but there was an entry in the Urban Dictionary dated March 16, 2020 which was submitted by user ‘you’reanidiot’:

“Relating to the 2020 Covid-19 virus: Someone who ignores the warnings regarding public health or safety. A person who hoards goods, denying them from their neighbors. Did you see that covidiot with 300 rolls of toilet paper in his basket? That covidiot is hugging everyone she sees.”

A few months after this entry appeared, an article entitled “What Does ‘Covidiot’ Mean, and Who Qualifies as One?” appeared on the Health.com website. Author Korin Miller writes: “A covidiot doesn’t take COVID-19 and the risks of the virus seriously, despite what government officials and the global health community say. At the same time, they may also engage in selfish behavior that doesn’t look out for the greater good when it comes to slowing down and stopping the spread of the coronavirus.“

The term has appeared in online news websites. In an article for News18.com, a woman was seen at a Kentucky gas station wearing a hole in her mask conveniently situated where her nose and mouth would be. When asked why, the woman replied that it helped her breath better. The article was aptly titled “This Covidiot Woman Has Cut a Hole in Her Mask to Help her Breathe.” Click on the TikTok video below to watch.

@joegotti96

Check this mask out #funny #fup #foryou #fyp #foryoupge #vital #funny #gasstation #viral #fyp #fyp #covid #mask

♬ Karen Mask – Joe Samaan
woman wears a mask with a hole in it

Social Media Trends as of May 10, 2022

Facebook #covidiot: 42,000 people are posting about this
Instagram #covidiot: 55,593 posts
TikTok #covidiot: 66,600,000 views
YouTube #covidiot: 795 videos and 441 channels

Google Trends: the popularity of the term “covidiot” reached its peak during the week of March 22, 2020 coinciding with the outbreak of the pandemic.

Covidiot search term

Sources

Miller, Korin. “What Does ‘Covidiot’ Mean, and Who Qualifies as One?” Health.com. July 15, 2020. URL: https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/what-does-covidiot-mean.

Samann, Joe. “Check this funny mask out.” TikTok. April 30, 2020. URL: https://www.tiktok.com/@joegotti96/video/6821575139763834118?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news18.com%2F&referer_video_id=6821575139763834118&refer=embed.

“This Covidiot Woman Has Cut a Hole in Her Mask to Help her Breathe.” News18.com. May 5, 2020. URL: https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/this-covidiot-woman-has-cut-a-hole-in-her-mask-to-help-her-breathe-2606931.html.

you’reanidiot. “Covidiot.” Urban Dictionary. March 16, 2020. URL: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Covidiot.

Categories
Pandemic

Maskhole

A recent article that appeared in the WestSideRag on March 7, 2022 said a new term had entered the lexicon – “maskhole” – although use of this term was meant to imply “don’t judge” in reference to a story in the New York Post that talked about kids being teased in school if they did/didn’t wear a mask. The article began with the opening statement: “Hey kids, don’t be a maskhole! With the end of school mask mandates around the corner, the city’s elite private schools are warning students not to question or tease classmates over their face covering choices” (Algar).

The term has a more derogatory meaning and goes back to April 2020 when masks mandates were implemented by the authorities to help stop the spread of Covid-19. The UrbanDictionary defines maskhole as “Assholes who don’t wear masks publicly during the Coronavirus/COVID 19 Pandemic. Especially common in NYC and usually of a certain perceived privileged and political party(GOP)” (JGoldStayGold). A May 11, 2020 submission to the same dictionary for maskhole reads “A maskhole jogged right past me in the park today” (Bethinslope).


Wiktionary defines a maskhole as:

“Etymology: Blend of mask +‎ asshole

Noun: maskhole (plural maskholes)

  1. (slang, derogatory) A person who refuses to wear a facemask during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2.  (slang, derogatory) A person who harasses others for not wearing a face mask.”


The City of West Hollywood defines a maskhole as “a person who refuses to wear a facial covering during a pandemic, despite its ability to help save lives” and produced a short animation. Click the image below to view it.


Social Media Trends as of May 10, 2022

Facebook #maskhole: 6,100 people are posting about this
Instagram #maskhole: 8,174 posts
TikTok #maskhole: 19.5 million views
YouTube #maskhole: less than 100 videos and channels

Google Trends: maskhole first appeared during the week of April 26, 2020 and reached its peak during the week of July 12, 2020.

Maskhole search term

Sources

Algar, Selim. “NYC private schools worry students will be teased over choice to wear masks.” New York Post. March 2, 2022. URL: http://NYC private schools worry students will be teased over choice to wear masks.

Bethinslope. “Maskhole.” Urban Dictionary. May 11, 2020. URL: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Maskhole.

“Don’t be a maskhole” video. City of West Hollywood. 10 August 2020. URL: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=633905637244967.

JGoldStayGold. “Maskhole.” Urban Dictionary. April 25, 2020. URL: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Maskhole.

“Maskhole.” Wiktionary. URL: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/maskhole.

“Monday Bulletin: ‘Don’t be a Maskhole’ (Don’t judge).” West Side Rag. March 7, 2022. URL: https://www.westsiderag.com/2022/03/07/monday-bulletin-dont-be-a-maskhole-dont-judge-gales-heli-ride-not-so-fast-teddy.

Categories
Pandemic

National coin shortage

In the summer of 2020 signs like the one below started to appear in shops and businesses. The pandemic created a shortage of a lot of things, including pocket change. The Federal Reserve acknowledged this in an article that appeared in the June 20, 2020 online issue of USA Today: “Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday the shutdowns caused by the pandemic have raised concerns about circulation of coins, which the Fed’s 12 regional banks are in charge of supplying to commercial banks. ‘With the partial closure of the economy, the flow of funds through the economy has stopped,’ Powell said during a virtual hearing with the House Financial Services Committee. ‘We are working with the Mint and the Reserve Banks and as the economy re-opens we are starting to see money move around again'” (Tyko).


Social Media Trends as of May 10, 2022

Facebook #nationalcoinshortage: people are posting about this
Instagram #nationalcoinshortage: 355 posts
TikTok #nationalcoinshortage: 9.5 million views
YouTube #nationalcoinshortage: less than 100 videos and channels

Google Trends: “National coin shortage” peaked during the week of July 5, 2020 which coincides with the time “exact change” notices started to appear everywhere on shop windows and registers.

National coin shortage search term

Sources:

Tyco, Kelly. “National coin shortage: Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters part of latest COVID-19 shortage.” USA Today. June 20, 2020. URL: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/06/20/coronavirus-shortage-coin-supply-pennies-nickels-dimes-quarters/3230828001/.