Editing The COVID-19 pandemic

{{About-distinguish-text|the virus featured in ''Half in the Bag''|[[wikipedia:COVID-19{{!}}the real virus of the same name]] or [[wikipedia:COVID-19_pandemic{{!}}its related pandemic]], of which the ''Half in the Bag'' virus is themed after}}

'''The COVID-19 Pandemic''' was a worldwide viral outbreak that caused worldwide disruption of human activity, an economic recession, and social outcry with regards to its handling by government officials and its stigmatization among people over the internet. [[Mike]] and [[Jay]] were [[The 2016 Oscars|sent back in time by an alien]] to prevent it and the Iranian Nuclear Conflict, but they slacked off on informing government officials of the conflict, leading to a stable time loop.

Canonically, two copies of [[The Plinkett Household]], Mike, and Jay currently coexist: one on top of [[Mount Everest]] who survived the pandemic through isolation, and one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin who lived through the pandemic and survived.

Interchangeably, COVID-19 is referred to as "Covid", "COVID-19", and "Coronavirus".

== Timeline ==
COVID-19 was first introduced in [[Blumhouse's Dirty Secret]], as the crew review Blumhouse films on Hulu to prevent catching the virus from movie theaters. [[Mr. Plinkett]] claims to have caught Pneumonia, a known symptom of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus spread by COVID-19), but this is apparently not a case of COVID-19. Throughout the next episodes, the crew board up [[The Plinkett Household|Mr. Plinkett's house]] as a makeshift bunker to protect themselves from the virus.

[[File:Half in the Bag Episode 182 screencap.png|thumb|The exterior of [[Lightning Fast VCR Repair]] during the pandemic, as seen in [[Money Plane]]]]
The crew is forced to return to the [[Lightning Fast VCR Repair]] building despite the crew not being an "essential business." ''([[The Assistant and The Wrong Missy]])'' During this episode, Mike confidently states that the coronavirus is "over", but repeated calls by the Milwaukee government to lockdown require the two to shelter in the VCR repair store. Exterior shots show the sky reddened with sounds of assault rifle fire and sirens implying a global collapse and conflict occuring in the outside world. The constant conflict requires Jay to board up the windows to the store. ''([[Bill and Ted Face the Music]])''

Some point shortly afterwards after infiltrating the repair store again{{which episode|June 2024|reason=Please include a link to the episode that marks last time Rich infiltrated the Lighting Fast VCR Repair shop}}, [[Rich]] spikes the crew's [[drinks]] with hallucinogenics and shoots both Mike and Jay dead. In [[Wonder Woman 1984]], however, it is revealed that Mike and Jay were covertly quarantining in the basement of the Plinkett house. Rich had, actually, shot clones produced to do work for them to prevent them from catching COVID-19. The two then shoot Rich dead in retaliation.

=== The Omega Variant ===
[[File:Half in the Bag Episode 196 screencap.png|thumb|Mr. Plinkett being viewed through Mike's camera feed. From [[Demonic]].]]

COVID-19 returned in [[The Suicide Squad]], as Milwaukee introduced new quarantine and vaccination guidelines in response to the new COVID-19 variants:
* Beta: Same as the real life variant.
* Gamma: Same as the real life variant.
* Beta+: More contagious than Beta, but less than Delta.
* Gamma+: More contagious than Gamma, but less than Delta.
* Delta: 10 times more contagious than the normal variant.
* Delta+: 100 times more contagious than the normal variant.
* Lambda variant: Mentioned by Mike, but not elaborated on.
* Epsilon Zeta: Mentioned by Jay, and confirmed by Mr. Plinkett.
* Omega: Mentioned by Mike, and confirmed by Mr. Plinkett.

Mr. Plinket explains that he tested positive for every single COVID-19 variant. Mike claims that having all variants of COVID-19 in his body will cause them to mutate into the most contagious and vaccine-resistent form of COVID-19 based on a Buzzfeed article he read. As Mike's latest get rich quick scheme, he and Jay duct tape Mr. Plinkett  to his wheelchair to let the virus ravage his body with the hopes that he will produce antibodies that they can sell to the government. Plinkett escapes ''([[Malignant]])'' and has a doctor diagnose him ''([[The Bruce Willis Fake Movie Factory]])'' revealing it was simply a minor cold, Plinkett had recovered from COVID-19 quickly, and the Omega variant was completely made up by Mike.