A new COVID-19 sub-variant is now the dominant strain in the United States, and Twitter is having a field day with jokes as “New COVID” is one of the top trends on January 5.
The latest strain, officially named XBB.1.5, originated from the UK and has made its way across the Atlantic, where it is responsible for 40% of U.S. COVID-19 infections at the moment. After nearly three years of COVID-related topics trending on social media, ranging from vaccine-related topics to conspiracy theories, it seems that Twitter users are burnt out on COVID trends. In predictable Twitter fashion, its users have taken to posting some timely-yet-funny tweets on the “New COVID” phrase trending today, proof that if there's one thing Twitter does well, it's comedy.
User Pizza_Dad used a famous gif from The Simpsons to get his point across about seeing “New COVID” trending this morning:
When you log in and new covid is trending pic.twitter.com/0LGm7I8WyE
— Pizza Dad (@Pizza__Dad) January 5, 2023
It's a big day for fans whenever their favorite musical artists unexpectedly releases a new track or album and you excitedly tell your friends about the news. But when “New COVID” drops? Not so much:
Babe wake up new covid just dropped
— ⁂ ✰beaniebabie✰ ⁂ (@exxxpiredlust) January 5, 2023
Undoubtedly inspired by the product launches that will be unveiled at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show this week, this user had fun with the news of “New COVID.”
Keynote: COVID Unveils New COVID Variant As “The Most Contagious COVID Ever” pic.twitter.com/VDgonZNOr3
— Calumet Dundee (@CalumetDundee) January 5, 2023
“Hey, if there's a new strain of COVID-19, that means that the rest are all on discount now, right?” jokes Twitter user Technibility:
New Covid Variant just dropped. All the older, previous variants are now located in the discount isle and will be available on Black plague Friday. pic.twitter.com/bzU5uYxlEy
— Technibility📱 (@Technibility) January 5, 2023
This tweet by PatrickWalts gives a callback to failed product-rebranding efforts like “New Coke” which was launched in 1985:
It’s just a marketing ploy. Everyone will hate the new COVID and they’ll bring back Original COVID as “COVID Classic.” Calling it now. pic.twitter.com/XKMVNIUyG5
— Patrick Walts (@PatrickWalts) January 5, 2023
This was another funny tweet by AngryBlackLady referencing the fact that “New COVID” will be doomed to fail because it wasn't “market tested:”
New COVID wasn't market tested. It won't last long. Worst idea since COVID Clear. It will rebrand as COVID Classic.
— 🤌🏾 Imani Gandy 👆🏾 (@AngryBlackLady) January 5, 2023
And then maybe we can finally get COVID Zero.
Twitter user KlarkProMax gives a tongue-in-cheek suggestion as to how COVID variants should be named from now on, a reference to iPhone nomenclature:
How new Covid variants should be named
— Klark (@KlarkProMax) January 5, 2023
Covid
Covid pro
Covid max
Covid pro max
Covid ultra
Covid ultra pro
Covid ultra pro max
Covid extreme
Covid extreme pro
Covid extreme max
Covid extreme pro max
Covid extreme ultra
You get the point…
Finally, this user points out what many millennials are surely thinking with this spot-on tweet about the variant's official name:
new covid variant looks like the last few characters of the file name for a 720p DVD rip of THE DEPARTED torrented from pirate bay in 2007 pic.twitter.com/l6h3I3atUL
— manny (@mannyfidel) January 5, 2023
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.