Letter of the Day | Coronavirus lessons: Time for price gouging laws

THE EDITOR, Madam:

With the threat of the novel coronavirus, we have to be extremely clear about our individual ­responses for our household and immediate surroundings. At present, most people are experiencing IO (information overload). Information overload is the difficulty in ­understanding an issue and effectively making decisions when one has too much ­information about that issue. Generally, the term is ­associated with the excessive quantity of daily information.

Although being informed is never bad, the overstimulation of the brain can have the reverse effects. In other words, instead of becoming smarter, our brain’s ­ability to learn and engage in problem-solving thinking will decrease.

The signs are abundant across the island as people panic and prices on cleaning supplies ­triple in some cases. Unfortunately, there is no law against price-­gouging in Jamaica, so our consumers are left at the mercy of already ­unscrupulous providers.

The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hand sanitisers with at least 60 per cent alcohol when you aren’t able to wash your hands. Huge pumps and multipacks of bottles are flying off store shelves. ‘Alcohol-free’ products, which are NOT recommended by the CDC, are also getting snatched up in the buying frenzy.

Hysteria abounds, exacerbated by information overload. As ­consumers, we ought to be vigilant and sensible about how we approach any situation, especially where our physical, mental, and financial health are at risk.

As for government actors, more ought to be done to ­protect ­consumers from exorbitant price increases in times of national emergencies, whether real or ­perceived. The effects can be more damaging than the actual ­situation being faced. We are already being affected by the coronavirus, which still hasn’t got a ‘visa’ to visit us in Jamaica (hopefully it won’t).

Granted, we must remain on high alert while guarding ourselves from information overload and the coronavirus.

MOST ARE USELESS

Most hand sanitisers are antibacterial and useless against the coronavirus. Antibacterial ­products prevent the development of bacteria. The hand sanitisers with 60 per cent or more alcohol (antimicrobial) prevent the spread of bacteria, fungi, and some viruses.

If you still want to use hand sanitisers, use the one labelled as antimicrobial.

The bottom line: Keep washing your hands!

Lest we forget, we are still in the thick of cold and flu season, and there are plenty of other germs floating around out there that we need to avoid.

MICHAEL DIAMOND

President

Consumers Intervention of

Jamaica