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Asda soap empty shelf

Panic buying because of the Coronavirus has become such a problem that supermarkets have had to introduce rationing. Shelves are being stripped bare of paracetamol. soap, hand sanitiser, bleach, household cleaners, toilet rolls, bottled water, pasta, rice and tinned food.

What these muppets have neglected to consider is what everyone who hasn’t panic bought 2 years’ worth of bleach and soap is going to do to stop themselves spreading the virus to those who have.

Herd Immunity

You see, we’re all relying on everyone else to do their bit to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. People are panic buying soap and bleach and tissues because the experts are telling us to wash our hands regularly, clean hard surfaces regularly and to sneeze into a tissue and throw it away (the fact they have to tell people this in the first place is a bit worrying). This stops the virus being spread around the population because everyone is doing their bit to kill it off. It’s called herd immunity and it’s why we vaccinate against preventable diseases.

If people can’t wash their hands regularly because they can’t buy soap, can’t clean hard surfaces regularly because they can’t buy bleach and can’t sneeze into a tissue because some people think they need half a deciduous forest in their bathroom it’s going to spread even faster and no amount of hand washing, bleaching and blowing your nose is going to stop you getting it.

Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.

Only about 1% of people with Coronavirus symptoms who have been tested in England actually had the virus. It’s infectious but you are still less likely to get it even if you come in contact with someone who has it than you are to be infected. This panic buying is not just unnecessary, it’s actually increasing your risk of catching the virus. So do yourself and the rest of the population a favour and stop the idiocy.

Is this really necessary? Cleaning products, toilet rolls, bleach, paracetamol, bottled water, pasta, rice … cleaned out at my local Asda and I’ve seen on social media that other supermarkets are in a similar state. Do people not wipe their noses or clean their houses usually?

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Dear Telford, get a grip.

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Peter Bone MP

Peter Bone MP has introduced a Bill into the British Parliament for the creation of a new bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to celebrate the British union.

He didn’t explicitly mention that the bank holiday wouldn’t apply to Scotland of course but it’s a devolved matter and there is absolutely zero chance of the Scottish government legislating for the same bank holiday in Scotland.

The British government have refused to recognise St George’s Day despite sustained, widespread support for a holiday in England but for some inexplicable reason think that a bank holiday to celebrate the British union in just three of the four member states of the UK is a good idea. The irony will be lost on them, I’m sure.

Personally, I would rather go to work than have a day off to celebrate the British union. Brexit, yes. Britain? No.