Its not the end of the world

The worlds on fire and the plague has returned, at least that's what the media says and many seem to believe. Apparently the response is to buy toilet roll by the shed load, pain killers and hand wash by the gallons. It does make you wonder what people did before the panic. Have they suddenly realised its a good time to wash their hands and not cough in peoples faces?

At least their are helpful posters and videos to teach you how to wash your hands. Makers of hand sanitiser and toilet paper are literally rubbing their hands together. The toilet paper hoarding seemed to begin in Australia and then spread quicker then the actual virus itself. Obviously if you are a master James Bond criminal mastermind and want to poison the world, forget airplanes dropping bombs, just impregnate toilet roll packs.

In my country along with toilet rolls its tins of beans and pasta that's had to be rationed. Quite a boring diet but I suppose stuff has to go in one end to make the loo roll mountain worth having. Its all a bit weird because you can find alternatives around the house if need be for après toilet, not sure what you can randomly find to eat. Unless you have a particularity tasty looking relative locked up with you.

In Britain if there's a threat of an inch of snow people panic buy bread and milk. This is the same at Christmas when shops shut for one day, so the threat of 2 or 3 weeks without shops must be mind blowing for some. The small question is why do so many panic when they know so little. As per usual its the media and idiots on social media.

One friend shared a post saying the virus sits in your throat a few days before it infects you, so just gargle salt water to kill it. I think the WHO and other might have noticed this. Con men like certain American evangelists say touch your tv screen when they are on and they will pray it away. Famous nut job Alex Jones has been ordered to stop advertising a toothpaste that apparently cures the virus. Two small problems, it doesn't work and could change your skin permanently blue. Also add the online theories that its a man made chemical attack and I suppose panic is not surprising.

As always there are a few things to remember at this time. Most of what's on social media is rubbish unless copied from a reputable source. Listen to the people who study these things for a living, not someone who used google and a hunch. Wash your hands like you should be doing anyway, don't cough on people and try and stay healthy.

The majority of people who have died in the uk already had underlying conditions, the virus worsening conditions they had already. So make sure people with conditions like COPD or other breathing problems are looked after. Help with cleaning but limit people who visit unless they can be guaranteed to be well, a mild case for you could be serious if passed on.

If you do have to self isolate or have to work from home take it as an opportunity and not a chore. Read books, catch up on boxsets or learn something new. The virus appears to have done its worst in China and will peter out in time. We just need to be a bit careful until its passed over. Don't stop living, don't live in fear, just be a bit careful.