Podium Superstars of Covid-19
The unprecedented worldwide lockdown, triggered by the threat of the novel corona virus that originated from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China leading to the deadly respiratory disease, defined as Covid-19 by WHO, has also showcased some unlikely heroes who take the podium every day to brief the press with daily updates on largely the ground situation, including number of Covid-19 infected persons and those tested, and the measures being taken to tackle the present and the expected contingencies. The Coronavirus Research Center of John Hopkins University and Medicine provides a live update of just the (alarming) numbers: global Coronavirus infections and deaths in an easy-to-visualise numerical dashboard, which is usually used by all news outlets across the world. The local data is gathered by the governments of various countries at different levels (country-wide down to state and district levels) and shared with the public through a press meet daily.
Five heroes have emerged and many more unsung who haven’t hogged the limelight out of this threatening virus infection and disease that has killed close to 100,000 people and has spread to 185 countries worldwide. Governments are grappling with countermeasures and mostly have resorted to lockdowns in response to this deadly virus that is sparing no one. It has already claimed the life of Princess of Spain, aged 84. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (55) was also infected with this virus and was admitted to the intensive care unit of St Thomas Hospital, but he has managed to get out of ICU and over Covid-19.
Horacio Arruda, the unlikely hero of Quebec
Source: ValMo-Illustration on Facebook.
Dr. Horacio Arruda, an unknown bureaucrat in the Canadian province of Quebec, has become a sensation because of his daily press briefings. This 59-year-old Director of Public Health of Quebec Province has charmed the Canadians through some of his controversial actions such as touching his face, in warning the audience about the consequences of some actions that lead to contacting Corona virus infections. He has found his way into t-shirts and memes.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/06/826617849/this-quebec-health-official-has-become-a-sensation-with-his-coronavirus-tips
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New Zealand is falling in love with the Ashley Bloomfield Show
New Zealand’s Ashley Bloomfield, “the extremely competent, somewhat boring” Director of Health, has set the “New Zealanders’ hearts aflutter” through his daily press briefings. Hailed as a “mild-mannered health care hero” he takes the podium every day and “in his gentle, measured way delivers whatever news he needs to, good or bad.” What has come to be called the Ashley Bloomfield Show, his daily press briefing is eagerly awaited by Dr. Bloomfield’s fans as well the country’s people.
Anna Rawhiti-Connell, who writes for newsroom.co.nz, in her ode to Ashley Bloomfield, confessed her unqualified admiration for him: “When children ask me what I did during the great pandemic of the 2020s, I will tell them I participated in idolatry so egregious that the Golden Calf would’ve blushed a dusky shade of metallic rose. Every day, at 1 pm, I tune in to my new favourite TV programme, the Ashley Bloomfield Show starring Ashley Bloomfield.” She added, “My Twitter account became the national headquarters for the Ashley Bloomfield fan club. Hundreds of like-minded souls have since followed me. If Ashley Bloomfield were Jesus, I am at least one of the lesser known apostles now. Jude Thaddeus perhaps.”
Here is a funny take on how he greets before starting the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH6O94k1Tc4
If you want to indulge further, watch this press briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6J7IjpfPvA&t=533s
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Pinarayi Vijayan attracts Malayalis across the globe
Closer home, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daily press meet, lasting over an hour from 6 to 7 pm, is a worldwide hit, with Keralites across the globe following the updates closely. The Kerala CM’s message delivered with a deadpan face still has won millions of admirers for his ability to provide clear view of the situation. At times, Mr. Vijayan also indulges in advice: in one press meet, he asked husbands to help wives in the kitchen!
Writing for the News Minute, Sreedevi Jayarajan says that the Kerala CM’s 6 pm press meet has reached popularity levels of entertainment TV soaps. She says, “The daily press meets have also ensured that fake news circulation has reduced to a large extent.” The interesting tit bit about the press meet is that “Interestingly, Pinarayi’s speeches with a deadpan demeanor have not only generated jokes and discussions in the state; data on the BARC audience measurement of Malayalam channels between March 21 and 27, now show that the CM’s 6 pm press meets have turned into a staple of sorts for the average Malayali.”
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/pinarayi-vijayan-s-6-pm-press-meets-have-become-staple-kerala-viewers-122158
Video of a press meet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYR82t7bi88
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The Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu Is Winning Admirers All Around
Tamil Nadu’s Health Secretary Dr. Beela Rajesh’ no-nonsense press briefing has won her admirers all over, with praise pouring in for her clarity and elaborate explanation. A doctor by education, Dr. Beela joined the IAS in 1997. She patiently answers all the questions posed by reporters. She deftly defers tricky details on data sought for by reporters but has also proven quite adept at negotiating some controversial questions related to treatment and death. Her appeal on Twitter as well during the press meet to treat Covid-19 patients with kindness went viral. Her sartorial taste has also generated conversation as well as memes on social media. She usually wears a saree with a matching neck-covered elbow-length blouse in bright colours.
This video went viral, in which she clearly explained how Covid-19 testing is done in Tamil Nadu. After this, she was regularly followed by press and the public on her daily press briefing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWq_DxgdA64
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Rajasthan’s Health Official Explains How District Administration Can Make a Difference Literally to People’s Lives
Rohit Kumar Singh, Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary of Health, in his interview with Shereen Bhan of CNBC-TV18, displayed an admirable clarity, combined with clear articulation, in the strategy adopted by the Rajasthan Government, especially the district administration, in preventing an outbreak in the textile town of Bhilwara just after one case of infection of a doctor was detected. It is now hailed as the Bhilwara Model. Mr. Singh said the strategy has been “ruthless containment, ruthless containment, ruthless containment.”
Watch the interview (from -14:40) here after the daily briefing by the Union government officials:
https://www.facebook.com/cnbctv18india/videos/227917138406715/