The following editorial originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times:
With the coronavirus spreading in the U.S., Americans are reacting in a variety of ways. Some of them are smart, others … not so much.
Hoarding enormous quantities of toilet paper, crates of bottled water or five-year supplies of hand sanitizer as if the end is nigh is irrational and unhelpful to your fellow citizens.
And then there are simply idiotic and selfish reactions, such as stealing stocks of medical face masks from hospitals and research facilities, as has been reported in the U.S. The nation already has a woefully inadequate supply of face masks, and taking protective gear away from those who work with sick people endangers everyone.
Panicking in the face of pandemic might make sense in a fictional zombie apocalypse, where 100 percent of those infected turn into flesh-eating monsters, but this kind of irrational behavior could very well make the coronavirus outbreak worse for everyone else.
Of course, people should be concerned and take extraordinary-but-rational precautions to avoid coming down with COVID-19 — for themselves, but also for others in the community who are at higher risk for serious illness or death, such as elderly people and those with underlying health conditions. And it’s true that health officials have good reasons to be more alarmed by the new virus than the seasonal influenza, despite the former being responsible for far fewer deaths this year than the latter.
But the reality is that the vast majority of people who get infected will have moderate, mild or even no symptoms. There’s simply no good reason for the masses to freak out.
As testing ramps up after a troubling delay, the number of confirmed cases will most likely rise quickly. Same with the global death toll. As this happens, people need to hold their panic level in check.
This means:
• Not demanding diagnostic tests from health care providers if you are well and have had no known contact with a sick person. The U.S. has a shortage of testing kits, and priority should be given to those showing signs of illness or with documented exposure.
• Not buying into “miracle cures,” such the drinkable silver concoction that televangelist Jim Bakker has been hawking, claiming it can cure people of a COVID-19 infection in 12 hours. It can’t; in fact, no cure has been found.
• Being skeptical of home remedies shared by friends that supposedly offer protections from infection.
• Showing compassion for those who are infected or are self-quarantining.
And having patience with government officials who are grappling with difficult decisions and trying to walk the line between complacency and overreaction. Does it make sense for an entire country to quarantine, as Italy has done? We will only know in hindsight.
With the stock market seesawing and our usual work or school routines disrupted, it may feel a bit like the end of the world. It’s not, and we should act accordingly. Be careful, be responsible, but don’t give in to pandemic panic.
