COVID-19
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), officially named as SARS-CoV-2 and colloquially referred to simply as Coronavirus, is a fast-spreading disease responsible for the largest pandemic of the 21st century thus far. It has prompted governments to encourage social distancing practices such as staying six feet (2 metres) apart, wearing masks when going out, and only keeping essential services open – which to the dismay of Chris, doesn't include conventions.
In March 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Chris exhibited a juvenile attitude to the nature of disease and the body's own workings. He believed that he could become infected with SARS-CoV-2 simply by reading about its symptoms, and refused even to acquaint himself with signs that he or his demographically vulnerable mother may need aid.[1] Later that month, he endorsed watching the anime series Cells at Work to build one's resistance:[2] the cartoon depicts body cells as people, but given Chris's views on OCs, it would appear that he believes it to be a direct, literal depiction of what goes on in his body. On 28 March, Chris claimed the pandemic to be a sign of the Dimensional Merge and that COVID-19 was cured weeks ago in his fantasy world, also saying that My Little Pony characters were working to stop the pandemic problems in the real world.[3]
Relation to the Dimensional Merge
Chris has claimed that this pandemic is a part of the merge used for evening out the population on both sides of the dimensional curtain before the merge. He says this virus will help remove those who are mentally and physically weak.
This disease had also made its way to CWCville in C-197 and some neighbouring dimensions, but was somehow cured in all of them by mid April 2020.
Effect on Chris
Due to it being declared a global pandemic, multiple rules came into effect, including but not limited to shutting down of all non-essential services. Though the definition of essential was very vague in the USA, conventions were labelled non-essential and were not allowed to open. This stressed our autistic hero as he could no longer go the places that had (somewhat) accepted him.
Chris couldn't deal with the cancellation of the one place where he found people who liked the same things he did and as a coping mechanism declared that Sonichu has taken over his body and his soul has left for CWCville to attend BABScon. Despite social distancing having been enforced in Virginia, this didn't stop Chris (as Sonichu) attending the Leftovermedia livestream with ween Noah and the musician Max Mandu, footage from the livestream clearly showing that social distancing wasn't in place.
Support for other artists
Chris, being a generous philanthropist, decided that he will be buying all the garbage that other Bronies and Pegasisters would have had for sale if the conventions were held. He used all the money he had plus the money from sales of his cards and comics to "support" Bronycon artists. When people called him out for this, he said the cancellation of Bronycon left these people with no source of income and that he was a helpful person Sonichu for buying their trinkets and comics.