Alex Jones next to an Infowars headline that claimed more lockdowns were being planned by the Biden administration without evidence.

Why Do People Think There's Going To Be A 'Covid 2.0 Lockdown'? The Unfounded Rumor Explained

Over the past few weeks, you may have stumbled across a lot of panic and chatter from the anti-vaccination, COVID-19 denial crowd about an incoming lockdown, similar to what the world saw in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. Screeds declaring these folks will "NOT COMPLY" and they "WILL NOT GO BACK" have been echoing in the corners of some social media pockets, though it may be unclear why.

No major news organizations have reported on incoming lockdowns, nor has the Biden administration made any indication that another lockdown is imminent. Here's how this rumor began spreading through some conservative pockets of the internet.

Sassafrass84 @Sassafrass_84 Just a daily reminder for the upcoming covid scam. #DoNotComply safrass 84 I will not wear it on my face I will not wear it any place. I will not wear it to get in. I will not wear it on my chin. I will not wear it on my ear. I will not wear it out of fear. : I will not wear your stupid mask. I will not wear it. DO NOT ASK.

Why Do People Think There Is Going To Be Another COVID-19 Lockdown?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rumor of a second COVID-19 lockdown comes from Alex Jones and Infowars. On August 18th, 2023, Infowars ran a sensational headline, reading EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin Preparing to Bring Back FULL Covid Restrictions, Rollout to Begin Mid-September. That day, Jones appeared on the Infowars show to ring the alarm about upcoming lockdowns.

Jones and Infowars are both known for pushing conspiracy theories, and their article does not have any concrete information suggesting a new lockdown is imminent. What it does have is two anonymous, "high level" sources from two separate industries who made comments saying they have been told they will be required to wear masks to stay safe amidst rising COVID-19 cases.

Those sources are a "high ranking TSA official" who told Inforwars, "TSA managers were told new memorandums & policies were being completed that would reimplement masking, starting with TSA & airport employees as early as mid-September." A Border Patrol employee told Infowars that they have received similar guidelines.

By Infowars' own reporting, they were told that TSA and Border Patrol are prepping to reintroduce masking as cases rise (it's important to note that hospitalizations from COVID remain low and scientists say the recent COVID strains are less severe than previous strains).

Infowars extrapolated on this information and claimed that a second lockdown is being implemented by the Biden administration to improve the current president's re-election chances in the 2024 Presidential Election. They wrote:

Infowars’ analysis is clear: this new rollout’s timing is perfect for the embattled Biden administration to put the country back in a state of civil emergency and even martial law to further divide and confuse the public and move forward with the greatest election meddling in history.

Many times, Alex Jones has warned that the system will bring back biomedical tyranny. And the launch of this new crisis in September will allow a build-up of control that would allow the use of mail-in ballots for the next presidential election.

How Have Conservatives Responded?

Many conservatives, anti-vaxxers and COVID-19 deniers have picked up on Jones' hyperbolic warnings of a second lockdown by attempting to find more dots that could indicate a lockdown is imminent. Natalie Winters, a co-host on Steve Bannon's War Room, found publically available information about the government spending $7 million on COVID-related supplies, such as tests, and said it was proof the government was preparing for another lockdown.

Noted conservative talking head Mike Cernovich posted a screenshot of Pfizer's stock prices, implying that the government was on the precipice of inventing a COVID emergency to aid the pharmaceutical company.

*** Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters The federal government has already begun buying COVID-19 equipment and hiring consultants to enforce pandemic-era "safety protocols." Some of these contracts are scheduled to begin in September and October. AND PROPLE Contract Summary Delivery Order (DO) PID 36C10823N00040000 www Awarding Agency Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) SAward Amount ng Agency Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Award Amounts Recipient ODDBALL INC 1815 400 WTON DC 2000 UNITED STATES $1.7 Million Obligated A lanket Purchase Agreement (DPA) Call PID 36C24123N1006 Unlinked Award $1.7 Million Current Award Amount Recipient ABBOTT MOLECULAR INC 1300 E TOUHY AVE DES PLANES 5001631 UND WES $3.3 Million Poland Amount $2.0 Million Obligated Amount $2.0 Million Current Award Amount $2.0 Million Potential Award Amount Ar Paent Award Univ CONT_IDV 36010821000043600 Description Ny Classication Syste C Stand $415: Computer Systems Design and d ses Other Computer Services Parent Award Unique Key CONT DV 2412140078 3800 TASK ORDERS FOR DEVELOPER EXPERIENCE E014 MODIFICATION TO ADD FAR 2229 ENSURING ADEQUATE GOVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS OOTDEVIATION Description Dates Ⓒ and Medie Mancing 325413 - Diagnostic Sub Manufacturing 11:06 AM. Aug 21, 2023 in Progress (11 months remair Tade SD Cu EndDate Putorial End Date ALINITYMCOVID TESTING, HIV TESTING, HPV TESTING SUPPLIES North American Industry Classification Syste (NAICS) Code M Productor Service Code PSC) SERVICES 0: ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS Start Dat Current End Date Potential End Date Aug 14, 2023 Aug 13 20 Product Service Co PRODUCTS Sep 22, 2023 Sep 21, 2004 Sep 21, 2004 Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call PID 36C24123N0963 & MEDICAL DENTALVETERINARY OPTSUPP VITROMSTANCES KITS AND SETS Awarding Agency Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) KAARD PROFILE Not Starts Contract Summary SAA Delivery Order (00) PID WB1K0223F0027 Uked Awarding Agency Department of Defense (DOD BIOFIRE DIAGNOSTICS, LLC $16-COLOROWDR SALT LAKE CITE UT 84124 UNITED STATES Congo De SAward Amounts $1.3 Million Obligated Amount $1.3 Million Curent Award Amount $1.3 Million Potential Award Amount Recipient HOLOGIC SALES AND SERVICE, LLC CAMPUS OVE MARLBOROUGH MA UNITED STATES Cong Cuent Amour $1.5 Million Potel Amount Related Awards Par Award Unique Key CONT_IDV 3602412140048 3000 Description BOFORE COVIDIS TESTING REAGENTS AND EQUIPMENT North Amerindustry Classification System NAICS Code Maturing 3254 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 24tic Substance Related Ar PAward Unique Kay CONT DV W10421000100700 Description 33 Mures Dec Sody StartDate -Cuneta Pental End De 154515 All La Mafacturing Produto Service Code (PDC) PRODUCTS In Progress (11 months remai Start Date Quent End D End De : P Aug 1, 2009 Aug 17, 2004 Aug 17,20 MEDICAL DENTAL VETERINARY OPTISUPP esse: IN VITRO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES REAGENTS, TEST HITS AND SETS Share Dearad HOLLOGIO COVID TESTING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AT MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER TACOMA WA08431 (NEW DELIVERY ORDER Not Started . Oct 01, 2023 May 31, 204 May 31, 2024 MEDICAL/DENTAL/YETENARY OPT SUPP 4515 MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES Cernovich @Cernovich Check the Pfizer stock price and then you'll see why Covid is "back." Pfizer Inc. NYSE: PFE 36.84 USD -14.42 (-28.13%) year to date Closed: Aug 22, 4:58 PM EDT. Disclaimer After hours 36.84 0.00 (0.00%) 60 50 40 30- novich 1D 5D 1M Apr 2023 6M Pfizer YTD More Aug 2023 ...

Online, conservatives began announcing very loudly that they would not comply with any new lockdown or masking protocols that may come their way, and echoed Jones' hypothesis that a second lockdown was being planned by the Biden administration to give him an advantage in 2024.

Mike Engleman @RealHickory Just in time to steal another election! #DoNotComply BIDEN VIRUS *2024* MAKE AMERICA SCARED AGAIN +MAGA Nancy and 3 others 7:56 AM. Aug 23, 2023 :

Will There Be A Second COVID-19 Lockdown?

There is currently no evidence to suggest the federal government is planning to reimplement lockdowns to help curb the current rise of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Some private institutions, such as Morris Brown College in Atlanta, have reintroduced masking temporarily to help curb the spread of the virus there, but the Biden administration has made no announcement about a country-wide lockdown.

Even Infowars' own reporting does not support the theory that the Biden administration is planning another lockdown. The information they claim to have received from unnamed sources in government institutions only supports the idea that government institutions will reintroduce masking for employees, which is hardly the sort of "global lockdown" Americans experienced in 2020.


For more information, check out the COVID lockdown 2.0 conspiracy entry on Know Your Meme.




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