In this episode, RusselI speaks with Dr Jonathan Witt, an anaesthetist in South Africa’s public healthcare system, podcaster and political commentator. Jonathan brings his knowledge of the medical research to put the COVID-19 pandemic into empirical context, explains why it looks like a repeat of the H1N1 overestimation, how social media is hyping the present pandemic, COVID-19 risks in South Africa, what coming out of lockdown could look like, and how the government might use this crisis to increase its control over healthcare and private enterprise.

Episode Outline:

• 00:00:00 – Global COVID-19 pandemic state of play currently
• 00:05:00 – Lessons from H1N1 and fear accelerators in 2020
• 00:13:53 – COVID-19 risks in South Africa
• 00:22:04 – View from the frontlines and SA healthcare system stress
• 00:30:45 – COVID-19 vs Macro Pain narrative war
• 00:36:15 – Life after lockdown and political risks