The psychology of all this is almost as fascinating as the science.

It's quite normal that when people sense a threat they respond. The problem is media and social media overemphasising the risk and how that manifests itself in terms of actual behaviours. For some people it was/is locking themselves up and curtailing social contact; for others it's buying extra 'essentials', however tangentially related to the actual risks.

In Tesco yesterday one of the staff said to me that this virus threat was being overplayed and it wasn't anything to worry about. I doubt she's the only one, so clearly some people are reacting diffferently.

Jesus Andy,  what planet are you on ??

You can't go using the Brexit stack  - what happens when we have a no deal ?

No,  it's imperative a new Corona Virus stash is also accumulated.

Have you checked eBay?

usually means no symptoms (clinically silent)

£50 for half a toilet roll, with £2.90 postage.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Half-a-Toilet-Roll/324093029521

Although a company is selling 144 rolls for £26.99 and free delivery.

Cruise ship of California the Grand Princess 21 cases out of only 46 tested, 3000 on board. I think a world wide ban on cruise ships is probably in order now seems crazy cruises anywhere are still happening.  

LOL.  Probably still in the original Aldi/Tesco wrapper....

As countries are losing control now, unexpected transmission is becoming an issue.  I'm sure the cruise company would have been taking steps to exclude people from known infected areas but clearly that's not a guarantee any longer.

But the same basic issues apply to hotels and offices - anywhere where there's potential for close contact over a sustained period.  We know that the virus can survive for 48 hours in the right environment and we know some people exhibit limited or no clear symptoms.  I suspect that those are the basic ingredients for a virus to spread rapidly.

Supermarket trolleys and baskets?  The conveyor belts on which you put the food.   Indeed, any food that's going to be eaten raw (apples, grapes and so on).  Almost everyone goes shopping. 

Agreed this is going to be one hell of a battle I don't think we have any idea how bad it could get. Just watched an interview on Channel 4 news with Dr Richard Hackett. Very sobering indeed but well worth a watch. The full interview is on channel 4 twitter feed.

CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations Dr Richard Hatchett explains the long-term dangers of Covid-19 - saying it's the scariest outbreak he's dealt with in his 20-year career.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.channel4.com/news/this-is-the-most-frightening-disease-ive-ever-encountered-virus-expert-dr-richard-hatchett&ved=2ahUKEwihjKj7jofoAhXhThUIHRuZCPYQlO8DMAV6BAgQEAU&usg=AOvVaw0-EO1gP8Jjrz-Peh_VCCTW

LOL

As Maunder says, pay thousands for a "dream" holiday and end up in a floating prison

Panic buying is a symptom of a dysfunctional society diseased with individualism

To those with litres of soap at home- do you realise that to slow the transmission of COVID-19 you need other people to be cleaning their hands too?!

A fortress of toilet paper will not protect you

— Julia Simons (@SJimons) March 6, 2020

Time for the UK to give up now. A population so stupid its not worth carrying on

Just got back from Tesco (yes, I do my shopping when it's nice and quiet) and.... no shortages anywhere, other than the hand gel section. I've been keeping an eye on that, as we get through quite a lot at work (dealing with manky kids' keyboards and so on - I usually pick up a couple of bottles a fortnight for us in the office).

So, if you want to panic-buy bog roll for whatever reason, there's tons of the stuff in Tesco Sheerness.

(And no, I didn't buy any!)

I have to say I was a bit disappointed to find the only wild mushrooms available were pied-de-mouton [Hedgehogs] from Portugal. I already have a good stock of these in the freezer and think them a bit overrated TBH. I was hoping for Morels.

The country seems to be falling apart.

R.

I will repeat my suggestion that we look into the possibility of re-introducing a "prison hulks" approach for all convicted criminals, thus freeing up our prisons to act as Fever hospitals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_prison_hulks

http://www.nhshistory.net/smallpox_and_fever_hospitals.htm

Roger

Situation is the same in the north of Scotland. Staggered our additional stocking over the last 5-6 weeks. Last place I want to be is a supermarket (or a hospital!) if it kicks off in earnest. For everything else there is the village shop!

It had to happen as one of my fishing friends in Oz posted today.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.abc.net.au/article/12036218
This isn't the only incident that has required police attendance! A man was tasered the other day after resisting arrest after a bog roll inspired melee! But as the AC/DC song says, "Its a long way to the shop if you want a toilet roll".

I wonder how long it will be before we find these reusable xylospongium devices on the shelves again? It's been a long time since they were readily available in Durnovaria.

Seriously though, toilet paper those ladies were fighting over is not that hygienic in any case and perching over the bath tub with a shower head is far better if you don't have a bidet and don't want to use the Sun.

The edge of civilisation is far closer than we realise.

I was going to buy The Times and The Yorkshire Post as usual today but I must say I'm intrigued to learn more of 'Kelly's Whopper Knocker Shocker'

Don't worry, this guy is in charge

Trump muses that he could’ve become a research scientist instead of president.

TRUMP: I like this stuff. I really get it… every one of these doctors said, ‘how do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. pic.twitter.com/9ppWsjwN2v

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) March 6, 2020

Amazing that she is over 40 now and looks even better than she did 20 years ago - a bit like Carol Vorderman, gets better with age

Why has Australia been particularly hit by toilet paper panic seems completely random.

He's getting more and more insane by the day . He also said yesterday that he didn't want the new cruise ship case numbers to count torwards the US numbers as he was happy with the US number and didn't want them to go up.