Irrational fears of the spreading coronavirus (Covid-19) has lead to PANIC BUYING throughout South East Asia.
Retailers are reporting supply shortages as customers are stock-piling canned food, rice, dried noodles, sugar and, bizarrely, toilet paper.
Evidence that people are now hoarding toilet paper is evidence of unhinged minds and irrational thinking.
It is evidence of a fear being spread by an irresponsible media and a reminder of how powerful that is.
If the region is to be gripped by a terrifying death virus then wanting a year’s supply of something to wipe your bottom with is the mind set of an idiot. Or a child.
Yesterday the Bangkok Post reported people stockpiling, which had been prompted by rumours that should Thailand reach Stage 3 epidemic status, the government might impose significant restrictions of the movement of people. As if they need any excuse for that.
Thanes Nunman, they said, who is a painter in his 30s, told them that the Makro superstore in Bang Kapi was crowded yesterday like never before: ‘Instant noodles and toilet rolls had completely disappeared from the shelves as people want to hoard them.’
Imagine the fear people must feel if they sit down to make a list of survival essentials and put toilet paper in the top FIVE.
The relentless barrage of mis-information by an irresponsible media should be ignored by reasonable thinkers.
Ask yourself this. ‘Does anybody you know have Coronavirus..’ Followed by, ‘does anybody you know, know somebody else who has Coronavirus?’
Not the high-profile names the media use. Tom Hanks, for example, is a tiresome little attention-seeker with a new movie to promote. Not him, but somebody you actually know yourself. The answer is probably no.
Most people, like the Chelsea footballer and the Arsenal manager had recovered before they were even diagnosed with Coronavirus. They said they thought they had common colds. And yet the Premier League has been suspended.
Death virus…? A runny nose and sore throat.. Panic buying, empty shelves, stock-piling toilet paper. Cancelled sports events, no gatherings of more than 100 people.
What is really going on here. It’s time to grow up.
Here are some of the facts.
The fatality rate for COVID-19 already looks very low at 3.6% but remember that figure applies to the known cases.
When the number of people who had CORONAVIRUS, but recovered within a few days is added, then that percentage is estimated to be as low as 1% of fatalities from the real number of infections.
And yet Influenza, the most common virus, kills between 22 – 55 thousand people EVERY YEAR in America alone.
And they have a vaccination for that.
It’s time to stop panicking – BIG C is not going to run out of toilet paper. But if the corner shop does, because your neighbours are all idiots, then use a bum gun instead. And calm down. – Albert Jack
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