“It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s you”

“It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s you” (or “It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s us”) is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying became popular during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
 
“Its not the virus they want to control its the people” was posted on Twitter by G 95% Peaceful on March 22, 2020. “It’s not the ‘virus’ they want to control it’s YOU” was posted on Twitter by Tina M on December 7, 2020. “It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s you!” (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by Bahujan Bharat on December 15, 2020.
   
“Its not the virus they want to control it is about control us” was posted on Twitter by tonycarmelo on August 14, 2020. “It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s us” (a protest sign) was printed in the Montreal (Quebec) Gazette on April 11, 2021.
     
“It’s not about safety. It’s about control” is a related saying.
   
     
Wikipedia: COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020.
     
Twitter
G 95% Peaceful 😊 hush about your mask wearing
@LoneWol26229585
Replying to @ClimateRealists
all sorts is going on and little of it the truth, to much hype and stories riddled with holes, close all the doors in a country but leave all ports open, its not the virus they want to control its the people
2:33 PM · Mar 22, 2020·Twitter Web App
     
Twitter
Lady Voluntary
@LadyVoluntary
Replying to @jmarkwalk and @CNNPolitics
It’s not the virus they want to control…
2:47 PM · Jul 5, 2020·Twitter Web App
 
Twitter
tonycarmelo
@tonycarmelo15
Replying to @Much_Love77 and @SteveLaws19
Its not the virus they want to control it is about control us🤷‍♂️🐑🐑
3:51 AM · Aug 14, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Millard M
@MillardM1
Replying to @ChefGruel
It’s not the virus they want to control, it’s the citizens.
#RESIST
3:10 PM · Nov 14, 2020·Twitter Web App
   
Twitter
Tina M
@MucciTina
It’s not the ‘virus’ they want to control it’s YOU.
2:19 AM · Dec 7, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter       
Bahujan Bharat
@dalitsamajindia
It’s not the virus they want to control
It’s You !
(This is also shown on an image.—ed.)
1:51 PM · Dec 15, 2020·Twitter for Android
     
Twitter
Anthony Larme 🇦🇺
@AnthonyLarme
“It’s not the virus they want to control.. It’s all of us. This should be clear as day to everyone by now.”
1:50 AM · Jan 4, 2021·Twitter Web App
 
Twitter
Marlon Dela Cruz
@MarlonD35175794
its all about control of the population with fear than it is about controlling a virus. If they can get people to believe a lie they have ultimate control of us…
Remember: ITS NOT THE VIRUS THEY WANT TO CONTROL…ITS YOU!
(The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.)
9:18 AM · Jan 21, 2021·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
Tina M
@MucciTina
It’s not the ‘virus’ they want to control. It’s you, me and every person on earth.
2:02 PM · Feb 12, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
 
Montreal (Quebec) Gazette
Protest against public-health measures in schools draws modest crowd
The mostly maskless participants demanded a return to normal, equating wearing masks to children suffering.

T’Cha Dunlevy •  Montreal Gazette
Apr 11, 2021 •  April 11, 2021
(...)
Others included “Shame on the media,” “Don’t touch my kids. That’s enough,” “Children wearing masks equals children suffering,” and “It’s not the virus they want to control. It’s us.”
 
Facebook
Tukai Jack
May 23, 2021 at 9:16 AM ·
rise and shining VitiLomani
#durimai
👑♾🇫🇯
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
It’s not
the virus
they want
to control.
It’s you.
@THENEWRIGHT_HQ
     
Twitter
Ruth B.
@rumebar
Replying to @lorrain00414525
It’s not the ‘virus’ they want to control, it’s us.
9:59 AM · Jun 20, 2021·Twitter Web App
 
Al Jazeera   
Thousands protest against France COVID vaccine pass
People took to the streets as Parliament is expected to pass a bill tightening restrictions on those not vaccinated.

15 Jan 2022
(...)
In Paris, demonstrators bore French and regional flags, with banners bearing messages like “it’s not the virus they want to control, it’s you”.
 
Twitter
Anegan
@ParadiseTamilan
It’s not the Virus.
They want to control
IT’S YOU
#UnderTrialTrendyVaccines
#NoVaccinesForChildren #NoVaccineMandates
11:34 AM · Feb 12, 2022·Twitter for Android