Covid-19 showing hantavirus around the workplace meme

Covid-19 showing hantavirus around the workplace

This edited meme uses a popular template featuring characters from the 2019 Joker film and the It horror franchise standing on the iconic Joker stairs. The heads of both characters are replaced with illustrations of virus particles: the Joker in the red suit has a COVID-19 particle for a head, and Pennywise the clown has a hantavirus particle for a head. The COVID-19 character gestures as if proudly introducing the hantavirus character. The text above reads 'Covid-19 showing hantavirus around the workplace', paired with the original post context 'Still on probation but already causing problems' to frame the joke: it compares the relatively new, widespread COVID-19 pandemic (still in its 'probation' period as a public health threat) to a new, troublesome employee who introduces an additional problematic coworker to the workplace, amplifying disruption and problems. The background is a grungy urban outdoor setting with trash bins and littered garbage.

Per the provided source information, this meme was originally posted to the Reddit r/Meme subreddit and distributed via RSS. It is a derivative remix of the widely circulated 'Joker introducing Pennywise' meme template, edited to reference early 2020 public discourse surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and concurrent media coverage of hantavirus cases that drew public attention at the time. The original poster used the caption 'Still on probation but already causing problems' to highlight the joke that COVID-19 was still a newly emerged threat while already contributing to additional public health concerns.