Coronavirus has reached World War Z levels of craziness and Australia has decided the purchase of toilet paper is the best way to prepare itself for the impending apocalypse, write Mansour Shukoor, Jack Mara and Amy Boland.
On a global scale the coronavirus has effected five of the world’s continents, including Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Hatch journalists went to Sydney’s Central Station to ask the public their thoughts on the current situation regarding the shortage of toilet paper and stockpiling of long life goods… and to hand out emergency supplies of loo roll.
Belinda, 19, a student from Western Sydney, said: “It’s not realistic. At what rate are you really using toilet paper?
“It’s a combination of fear mongering and people just following the crowd.”
Jared Smith, a software engineering student from UNSW, told Hatch: “If it does become a problem I’ll worry about it then.
“I think it’s an initial thing and will eventually phase out and return to normal.”
Alarmist culture has long been an issue with worldwide outbreaks of diseases, such as the Ebola outbreak and mad cow disease.
Among the people Hatch spoke to there was a split between not caring at all and fearing for the absolute worst.
Lauren, a 20-year-old barista, said: “I think Australians are just going crazy. No other country is reacting like this.
“It’s like this [coronavirus] is a way of getting rid of the population, apparently.”
Tourists, also, have found it difficult to gauge the current situation and are worried about their travel plans.
Paul, an 18-year-old student and freelance photographer travelling to New Zealand, said: “I am travelling so I am worried about the airports.”
He blamed social media, saying it was full of fake news stories about coronavirus.
Paul added: “Social media is pushing it way too far, scaring people, especially when you see people that are wearing masks all the the time.”
From not caring at all, being worried about travel plans, to population control, peoples thoughts on the coronavirus range from one end of the spectrum to the other.
One thing is certain, however… toilet paper will not be back on the shelves anytime soon.