Pandemic
In the UK we are bracing ourselves for the spread of the Covid-19 Corona virus. The supermarket shelves have been cleared of medical hand cleanser (like hand washing was something new). People are panicking and stockpiling durable foods like pasta, soup, etc. Medical face masks are scarce, even our hospitals are short of them. This week it was announced that as our toilet rolls are made in China, there may be a shortage. As a result, there was panic buying of toilet rolls. In selfishly stockpiling supplies of foodstuffs and medicines they are depriving others of what they need. The virus can survive a long time on smooth cold surfaces, like supermarket trolley handles (I once caught 'flu from a slimy trolley). Most people can fight off the virus, but it can be fatal to those of us who are over 55, and have pre-existing health issues, like heart or lung problems. The best protection is to avoid crowds if possible, and wash your hands after they have been in contact with things that have been handled by others.
I regret that we now live in a selfish society, where some people's philosophy is 'f**k you, I'm alright.' I see it in other drivers on the road, as they race in their huge off-road vehicles whose tyres never get dirty, and fast cars that do not appear to have indicators. This week I have narrowly avoided three collisions with other cars only because of my fast reactions and good brakes. As with the Corona virus, the odds are stacked against me (if you don't hear from me again you will know why).
Have a safe weekend!
Hi Dave. In Australia we too are seeing irrational panic buying and appalling behaviour, fighting over toilet rolls, for heavens sake. I'm sure social media have a lot to answer for, as usual.
And I agree on your other points, too. Why is it, I often think, that it's most often expensive cars whose indicators don't seem to work? Or whose speedometers don't seem to tell their driver they are going much too fast in a built up area? Or that can't be parked on the road and have to block footpaths. The panic over toilet rolls is an indicator of just how fragile the social contract is... and we ain't seen nothin' yet. When climate change really starts to bite and water becomes short, and refugee movements move into the tens of millions...
Nothing to do with nudism, really, but you raise important issues.
What is it about toilet rolls? I heard that someone said we should not use towels to dry our hands and to use toilet paper instead. Paper hand towels or kitchen roll would be much better. And, if we share a house or flat with someone, we'll catch whatever they have whether we share a towel or not - and we can each have our own towel.
Isn't it a bit of an over reaction? So far in the UK 20,000 have been tested for the virus and just over 200 came back positive. That's 1%. Normal corona virus (another name for flu) spreads much more over a UK winter. And it kills more. They say that 4/5 of those catching this virus will only get mild symptoms.
Of course, if I'm told to self isolate, I will for the sake of those around me. That might be harder for my son (who lives with me). He works in a supermarket desperately trying to restock the shelves with loo paper, sanitisers, and the other things people are stockpiling. I guess he could infect masses of customers before he, or anyone else, knows. But what can we do? We can't shut down all the supermarkets or tell the staff all to stay at home.
There's the paradox brother! Supermarkets are breeding grounds for contamination, but we have to go there for provisions. I would advise people to to wear disposable plastic gloves when shopping. Your trolley will have been touched by hundreds of other hands during the day. It may be worth considering having your groceries delivered by the store.
Yes Chris, I totally agree with all you've said. In 2016 I wrote a story about survivors of a global disaster (Someday) and when I was researching it I read that in the not too distant future, there will be insufficient food and water to support the world population. I included the facts in the 'foreword' of the book.
Climate change is happening already, as predicted a few years ago.
Hope for the best, and plan for the worst!
I once caught 'flu from the handle of a supermarket trolley. An infected person had obviously sneezed into his/her hands while they were shopping, coating the handle with nasal slime. I wiped my hands, but I should have gone into the toilets and washed my hands. I know I rubbed my eye as I was shopping, so that's how I got infected. I catch colds easily, so I have 'flu injections every winter.
My wife was due to have a new hip fitted tomorrow, after months of agonising pain. Thanks to the Covid 19 pandemic the operation has been cancelled.
That is really so unpleasant for her! I reckon it's part of the 'new normal' that all manner of well-known pains and diseases will be ignored while the world copes, very unevenly, to the pandemic. It's a real tragedy for those in pain like your wife's!
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