On the counterpoint, a piece of evidence for us to consider.

Japan closed all schools til after golden week (their nationwide spring break) yesterday.

When will these be back in stock?


Ryan

Is this still available?

Just to put this all into perspective, regular influenza spreads around the world in yearly outbreaks, resulting in about three to five million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths. Nobody is isolated. The markets do not plummet. Is this just a media frenzy?

Cheers

Ian

Media exaggeration is a positive feedback loop where more reports generate more (scared) viewer interest.

There are lots of exaggerated and fake news reports floating around, and some real news. Apparently real(?), Japan is closing schools for one month... school are notorious for propagating communicable diseases.  Questionable (?) is report that corona virus may have originated in the US. Apparently health officials have yet to identify exact origin of COVID-19.

I am surprised that video conferencing and working from home did not already take off after previous recent viral outbreaks. Zoom (ZM) a video communications company has likewise caught the attention of investors (up 50% this month), so also too hot to touch. 

JR

I agree it is prudent to take precautions until the threat is properly characterised but it still seems to me that the press reaction is out of all proportion and frankly bordering on the irresponsible. For example the other day the Daily Mail front page screamed 'Schools Closed Across the UK' Turns out to be only 18 schools and 4 of those were advised it was not necessary.

Cheers

Ian

Daily Mail in sensationalist headline shocker!