Former New York Covid adviser fired after video reveals him partying during pandemic

Dr Jay Varma, New York City’s Covid pandemic in-charge and executive vice president at SIGA Technologies, has been fired following the release of a hidden-camera video in which he admitted to attending a sex party during the pandemic.

SIGA Technologies, a pharmaceutical company based in New York, disclosed Jay Varma’s termination in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The incident occurred after a podcast, Mug Club Undercover, posted a video on YouTube last Thursday showing Jay Varma speaking about hosting the event during strict Covid-19 restrictions in August 2020.

The off-the-record conversation was made public by the podcast host himself, leading to criticism of the doctor for his hypocrisy and dishonesty.

Jay Varma, who had been brought to New York from Ethiopia to assist in managing the pandemic, acknowledged the potential damage if he had been caught at the time but stated he was not afraid of breaking Covid mandates.

In the video, Dr Jay can be heard saying that the immunity provided by the COVID-19 vaccine is equivalent to the natural immunity developed after contracting the virus once.

Jay Varma, has confirmed the authenticity of a hidden-camera video in which he admitted to attending a drug-fuelled sex party during the pandemic lockdown. However, he criticised the footage as being "spliced and taken out of context."

In a statement issued through a spokesperson, Jay said, “I take responsibility for not using the best judgment at the time," but noted that the recordings were private conversations, secretly captured and altered.