Playing the blame game

As various countries around the world go into Covid-management inquiry mode, it's worth remembering the useful things we learned from the crisis admittedly, most of them in the "what not to do" category.

- Jane Clifton

There was the idea of injecting bleach, courtesy of then-US president Donald Trump. Turns out this is not recommended, though, to be fair, this treatment would technically get rid of Covid by killing the infected patient and would have had the additional benefit of making a bleachadministering country's Covid mortality stats look better.

Then there was the nasal hair-dryer treatment mooted by then British prime minister Boris Johnson. As the UK's official Covid inquiry reminded us this week, Johnson was advised that his suggestion, even assuming the hottest setting on one's Vidal Sassoon nozzle aimed up the snout, might have certain eyewatering effects, but none that would trouble the coronavirus.

In fairness, Johnson's staff did provide an invaluable new hack for the world's future convenience: a wheelie suitcase makes discreet transport for when you need to sneak wine into the office without Puritans noticing.