Right now, the only thing on everyone’s minds is coronavirus – what are the statistics, how many people have been infected and how close is it to us.
It has also brought about buzzwords such as ‘self-isolation’ and ‘social distancing’.
However, it has also brought about fear and uncertainty, rightfully so, as it is not only a national health issue but a worldwide one.
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As of Monday (March 23), according to the World Health Organisation 186 countries were affected with nearly 300,000 confirmed cases.
The national confirmed cases at the time of going to print stood at over 400.
We should not bury our heads in the sand thinking it will not affect us, but at the same time we should look at things from a logical perspective – how we can keep ourselves, our families and colleagues safe.
But at times, it seems logic has flown out of the window. Last week, I received a call from a pharmaceutical rep who visited a pharmacy on the South Coast. To her shock, an elderly woman paid R160 for a 250ml bottle of hand sanitiser – and she purchased three bottles.
Is this not daylight robbery? Those who can are playing on the fears of the public.
I shudder to think how much people have spent on their credit cards stockpiling food and other essentials that they think they need.
The economy will probably take a downturn. If people are retrenched – how will they pay these bills?
There are already signs of an economic slump worldwide, leading airlines are being grounded, staff are being told to take leave due to them in lieu of the shutdown. What happens when their leave runs out?
Will they continue to be paid? Will they have a job to go back to?
Right now, we should be doing everything in our power to keep calm in the time of adversity. Panic will not solve any problem overnight, instead, it will make it bigger because people are no longer thinking rationally.
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