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Coronavirus Causing Infection Of Selfish Panic Buying Could Increase Infections And Deaths

The worst of human nature and the populism of the selfish society, is perhaps the greater threat to human health than the corona virus itself.

Panic buying of hand sanitiser and face masks, not to mention toilet paper, and even streaking from hospitals, is an example of what has happened to UK society.

As is too often the case with human history, panic seems to be prevalent whenever a serious threat to life, e.g. wars and pandemics; is a possible outcome. The public take the word 'possible' to mean 'will' and in that sense it is often the actions of those thinking they can pre-empt a 'possible' outcome with actions which in fact can be the single vehicle for the feared outcome.

In other words, the more hand sanitiser that is 'squirelled away' by shoppers, the less there is to go round; increasing the opportunity for communal infection of the very thing that people think they are avoiding!

With theft from hospitals of hand sanitiser dispensers, surgical masks, and specifically N35 Masks (containing filters of microscopic particles), the very things that the NHS needs in order to treat those actually infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and in the worst cases, save their lives; is being dramatically compromised.

Further, individuals on E-Bay are making huge profits and charging up to £8 for a 49p hand sanitiser gel bottle! In fact, UK hand sanitiser products are selling for more than 5,000% of the recommended retail price online!

Liberty Marketing analysed the UK's biggest supermarkets and health stores to see how much more own brand hand sanitisers are being sold for on E-Bay compared to in-store.

They found Lidl 49p sanitisers are selling for as much as £24.99 online. Morrison's £2 hand sanitiser is being sold for £29.99 - a 1,400% increase.

Those listing Tesco's own hand sanitisers are still making a 1,100% profit, despite it being the lowest percentage increase out of them all. The Tesco Health Antibacterial Hand Gel (50ml) is just 75p in-store and is being sold for as much as £9 on E-Bay

Other supermarkets included in the research include Asda with a 2,629% increase and Morrisons with a 1,400% increase, while Sainsbury's did not sell its own brand.

Both sellers and buyers are guilty of in effect, putting some of the infected vulnerable people's lives at risk and increasing the the infection rate, by causing shortages!

Whilst you may expect actions to be taken by supermarkets, smaller retail outlets and the administrators of internet selling Websites, to prevent the immoral 'cashing-in' on public fears causing panic buying and shortages; to date absolutely nothing has been done.

With the Government in the UK saying the right words of condemnation and the competition watchdog warning retailers and traders they must not try and "take advantage of people" concerned about the outbreak of coronavirus, and officials at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stating they will take strict action, and anyone trying to inflate prices could be fined under competition laws; no real resources needed to do so, have been provided to date.

Neither have supermarkets and smaller retail outlets so far, taken action to stop the panic buying that risks the health of the majority of the public, by compromising their ability to take simple and effective precautions against being infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

As with Health and Safety at work, business will do nothing until forced to do so by legislation and the enforcement of the regulations.

Source: Evening Standard / Brian Coupland / Unionsafety

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