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B.C. government releases new campaign featuring COVID-19 party creature (VIDEO)

"Don't let this guy ruin your holiday,"
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert
covid-bc-government.jpg
B.C. health officials are pulling out all the stops on New Year's Eve to try to keep people from spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) on the final day of 2020. Photo by BC Government News / Twitter

B.C. health officials are pulling out all the stops on New Year's Eve to try to keep people from spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) on the final day of 2020. 

And while their latest effort is intriguing, it might remind you of a similar health campaign in Alberta. 

In a Tweet on Thursday (Oct. 31) afternoon, the B.C. government writes, "Let's all protect our loved ones by celebrating safely this New Year's Eve. Let's stop COVID-guy from showing up uninvited.

"Say "no" to gatherings and stay close to home."

The Tweet also includes a link to the provincial government's COVID-19 restrictions page, which was most recently updated on Dec. 31. 

Additionally, the province includes a video of a person (or half-person?)  with a COVID-19 molecule-head who is dancing to a decidedly funky festive jam. However, as the video underscores, no one should be partying this year--least of all with the novel coronavirus. 

"Don't let this guy ruin your holiday," reads the caption in the video. 

Alberta's take on the COVID-19 party guy

Earlier this month, Alberta, seeking to heal with hard-edged humour, launched a COVID-19 advertising campaign starring a fashion-challenged, hard-partying, virus-headed Freddy Kruegeresque super-spreader.

The eggnog-slurping social-distance violator is the centrepiece of the $2-million campaign to remind Albertans how stealthy and fast the virus can spread at social gatherings.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said the goal is to find a way to reach those 20 to 39.

The star is a man with an oversized grey head, like the novel coronavirus, spiked with red fuzz and sporting menacing eyes and a leering smile of pointy, misshapen teeth. 

In one ad, the dubbed Mr. Covidhead, with a beer gut and Hawaiian shirt, arrives to dangerously dance, hug and spread the night away at a house party.

In another, he is a dweeby uncle in an ugly Christmas sweater, hanging out with kids and grandparents and making sure he gets his mitts on every last plate and pot passed around the festive table.

Hinshaw stressed that no one was put at risk in the making of the dangerously happy-huggy videos.