The COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. We faced lockdowns, social distancing, and a whole lot of uncertainty. But these strange times also led to some truly strange human behavior. From odd excuses to leave the house to wild political scandals, the pandemic era has given us some news stories that are almost too weird to be true. Get ready to explore ten of the most surreal and bizarre news items that popped up thanks to coronavirus.
10. Helsinki’s Amazing Covid-Sniffing Dogs
The year 2020 was tough for airlines. People couldn’t travel, so planes stayed grounded. But Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Finland found a very clever way to test for COVID-19. In September 2020, they started using sniffer dogs!
A team of trainers worked with fifteen dogs. These special dogs can reportedly smell the virus in people up to five days before symptoms show. Professor Anna Hielm-Bjorkman from the University of Helsinki said her dog team was almost 100% accurate.
How does it work? Passengers wipe their necks with a cloth. The cloth goes into a can, and a dog sniffs it. The dogs can give a result in just minutes! While it’s still being tested alongside regular swabs, officials hope these talented dogs can one day help find coronavirus like they find other things.
9. Spain’s Creative Lockdown “Pet” Walkers
When COVID-19 hit Europe, Spain brought in strict rules. People couldn’t even leave home for a walk unless they were walking a pet. So, what did people do? They got creative!
One man in Northern Spain was fined for taking his fish in a bowl for a walk. Another person in Lanzarote was spotted walking a chicken on a leash. Reports came in of Spaniards using all sorts of animals to get outside – from goats and crabs to even pot-bellied pigs.
Some even dressed up in dinosaur costumes to wander the streets! While police didn’t always find it funny, it shows how imaginative people can be when stuck indoors.
8. Shady “Vaccines” on the Dark Web
It seems you can find almost anything online if you know where to look. During the pandemic, some sellers on the dark web started offering COVID “vaccines” and fake vaccine passports. Researchers noticed a big jump in these kinds of ads.
Check Point, a cybersecurity firm, said the number of vaccine ads grew to about 1,200. Prices varied, with some “vaccines” like Oxford-AstraZeneca listed for $500, and others like Sinopharm for $750. Of course, there’s no way to know if these products are real or safe.
Fake vaccine papers were also being sold for around $150 in Bitcoin. One ad even offered a deal: “Buy two negative tests and get the third for free!” It’s a risky business trying to buy medical items from hidden corners of the internet.
7. Al-Shabaab’s Sweet (But Dangerous) Advice
The pandemic brought out many strange ideas and fake science. One of the oddest came from Al-Shabaab, an extremist group in Somalia. They told people to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine. What was their alternative? Honey and black seed.
The group, linked to Al-Qaeda, urged Sunni Muslims to turn down the AstraZeneca vaccine. Instead, they suggested using these unproven home remedies to fight the virus. This advice came as Somalia was facing a serious second wave of infections.
They warned Somalis through social media, saying not to let their families be test subjects for the vaccine. This highlights how misinformation can spread, even promoting unproven methods against serious illnesses.
6. India’s Controversial Cow Manure “Cure”
In May 2021, health officials in India had to make an unusual announcement. They urged people not to use cow dung as a way to fight off coronavirus. In Hinduism, the cow is a sacred animal. Some people in the state of Gujarat were covering themselves in cow manure and urine. They believed this would protect them from infection.
Doctors repeatedly stated there was no scientific proof that this alternative therapy worked. In fact, medical workers warned that smearing animal waste on the body could spread other diseases.
At the time, India was facing a devastating wave of COVID-19, with hospitals overwhelmed. It’s understandable that people might turn to desperate measures, but health experts stressed the importance of proven medical advice.
5. Cats Catching COVID From Humans
Here’s a surprising one for pet lovers. Scientists at the University of Glasgow discovered two cases where cats caught coronavirus from their owners. Sadly, one of the cats had to be put down. The other only had mild symptoms.
A four-month-old Ragdoll kitten developed breathing problems and had to be euthanized. A later examination showed lung damage from viral pneumonia caused by COVID-19. The second cat, a six-year-old Siamese, had a runny nose but recovered.
These cases were found during a UK-wide study. Scientists are trying to learn more about how pets might be involved in human infection. So far, there’s no evidence of cats passing the virus back to their owners.
4. A Costly Memorial Balloon Launch in Britain
Grief and lockdown rules sometimes clashed in sad ways. A woman in County Durham, Britain, was fined £500 (about $700) for organizing a balloon launch. The event was to remember her father-in-law, Ian Stephenson, who died from COVID-related illness at age 58.
Vicki Hutchison, the 34-year-old organizer, had posted an invitation online. She asked everyone to wear masks and keep their distance. However, a video of the November 2020 event showed many people close together without masks.
Ms. Hutchison admitted she broke the law but said, “When you lose someone, you don’t think, do you?” She felt people should have the right to grieve, even during a lockdown, though authorities enforced the rules to prevent virus spread.
3. The Nightmare of DIY Lockdown Lip Fillers
When lockdowns forced cosmetic clinics to close, some people got desperate for beauty treatments like lip fillers. They turned to social media to find practitioners. Unfortunately, getting injections from untrained individuals can be risky. Many young women ended up with more than just plumper lips – they faced medical nightmares.
Some reported blood dripping down their faces after procedures. Others experienced blistering and blackened lips. This wasn’t the beauty boost they were hoping for.
As a result, legitimate clinics saw a big increase in patients needing corrective work. Dr. MJ Rowland-Warmann, an English dentist, spoke about a “staggering upward trend” in botched lip fillers. She even treated one patient who could have lost her lips without proper medical help. It’s a stark reminder to always seek qualified professionals for cosmetic procedures.
2. Hungarian Politician Caught at Lockdown Orgy
In December 2020, a high-profile Hungarian politician had to resign after a very public scandal. József Szájer, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Fidesz party, was caught by police at a sex party in Brussels during lockdown. He tried to downplay it as a “private party,” but it was widely reported as an orgy.
According to news reports, police found 25 naked men at the event, including several diplomats. Szájer was caught trying to flee the scene and reportedly had drugs in his backpack. He received a warning and returned home.
Szájer was a senior figure in Hungarian politics and even helped write the country’s constitution. His party is known for its strong anti-gay views. Ironically, just weeks after this scandal, the Hungarian government passed a new law banning same-sex couples from adopting children.
1. Belgium’s Unpleasant “Wild Pooper” Problem
Ghent, a beautiful city in Belgium, is usually a popular spot for tourists. But during the pandemic, something rather unpleasant started happening. With many public toilets closed due to COVID restrictions, the city saw a surprising increase in people, well, pooping outdoors.
When nature called, some residents found themselves with nowhere else to go. This led to what local official Helena Nachtergaele described as the phenomenon of ‘wild poop.’
She explained that the “great shortage of classic toilets” was the main cause. It’s a rather smelly and unexpected consequence of pandemic lockdown measures, showing how daily life can be disrupted in the most basic ways.
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly brought unprecedented challenges, but it also unearthed some of the strangest aspects of human behavior and circumstance. From creative attempts to bypass lockdown rules to truly bizarre health ‘advice,’ these stories remind us that reality can often be weirder than fiction. These ten tales are just a glimpse into the surreal side of a global crisis, proving that even in serious times, the absurd can still make headlines.
Which of these bizarre COVID news stories surprised you the most? Do you remember any other strange pandemic tales? Leave your comment below and share your thoughts!
