Yes. People forget how COVID was first presented in the media. Photos and videos of Chinese people collapsing in the streets as if they'd just been gassed. Aid workers in hazmat suits coming to their aid. We had a thread here a couple of months ago about it. It looks ridiculous now.
Looking back at that, it's easy to conclude the aim right from the outset was to use these dramatic images to get people's attention, and instantly provoke fear.
“ instantly provoke fear”
During Trump’s re-election year. Fancy that.
Propaganda