The one thing you definitely don’t want to do is cough midway through a speech about COVID-19. For Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, karma decided to smack him across the face with this exact nightmare scenario as he was silenced (temporarily) by massive coughing fit in the middle of a COVID-19 related speech in parliament, all while Scott Morrison awkwardly watched on nearby.
Speaking of COVID-19, the GOAT team debunk the hoaxes and misinformation about the coronavirus on ‘It’s Been A Big Day For…’ below:
During what was supposed to be the day the Federal Budget was meant to be handed down, Josh Frydenberg instead delivered an *check notes* “economic update” on how COVID-19 has impacted on the economy.
But partway through his speech on how the Government is expecting Australia’s GDP to fall by over 10 percent in the June quarter, Josh had to awkwardly stop for several minutes thanks to a heinous, lung-tearing coughing fit. To his credit, he soldiered on with his speech and eventually emerged like someone who had aged 20 years in the span of five minutes.
Was this karma? Fortuitous timing? Serendipity? A tone-deaf comedic bit? Lies getting caught in his throat? No one really knows but it did make for some awkward watching.
Joshy’s coughing fit was pretty awkward to watch as it is but the whole thing is made infinitely worse by how he keeps coughing into his fist rather than his elbow, all while still touching EVERYTHING near him. At a time where maintaining hygiene is of utmost importance, that’s not a good look.
But the kicker in this whole Josh Frydenberg coughing fit debacle is Scott Morrison’s reaction throughout the entire ordeal. While Josh is there choking up hairball, Scotty is just sitting nearby with his usual amused smug look.
Now there’s no official word on whether Josh is unwell and whether this coughing fit was brought on by COVID-19 or something else at the time of writing.
But just a gentle reminder to Josh Frydenberg for the next time he decides to barf a lung while preaching about COVID-19, maybe try to direct the coughing fit into the elbow instead of all over the podium. Doesn’t matter if you’re the Treasurer, everyone’s gotta stay vigilant with their hygiene.
UPDATE
Josh Frydenberg has tested negative for COVID-19. Good on him but can someone please tell him to brush up on proper coughing hygiene and etiquette?
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