As we face uncertain days, weeks and perhaps months ahead ('Nation warned of six-month battle', Newcastle Herald 17/3), it's probably timely for everyone to sit back and take a deep breath. This isn't the Zombie Apocalypse.

We do, though, need to take it seriously and listen to the information and advice from the experts. Practice social distancing and good hygiene. Most importantly, and something that has been lost on many, be nice to one another and don't be selfish. After seeing the best of people during the bushfire emergency, COVID-19 has shown the worst in some.

In months to come, the crazies as we should call them, will likely look at their pantry full with a year's supply of rice, pasta sauce and toilet paper and perhaps reflect it wasn't the most intelligent decision they have ever made.

WHAT a wonderful inspiration is Benny Bogan of Swansea, ('Time for the Aussie spirit to rise again', Topics 17/3). Benny took it upon himself, with the assistance of his boss, to buy and distribute toilet rolls to elderly and disabled people in his suburb. These are people who were unable, for various reasons, to fend for themselves.

The good old Aussie spirit is not yet dead, though you would be excused for thinking so when witnessing the "bugger you Jack, I'm alright" attitude of people physically fighting in supermarket aisles while they clear the shelves in panic buying. When I see this behaviour I feel ashamed to call myself an Aussie, but Benny has gone a long way to restoring my faith.

He might be Bogan in name, but he is the complete antithesis of a bogan in nature. Bravo, Benny.

I have but one criticism; I think Benny's story should have been on the front page.

SO we are having it tough at present, some more than others.

What an opportunity to reach out to others with a word of encouragement in the shops and offices.

If confined at home I suggest you write a letter to someone, make a cheery phone call or discuss books you are reading. There are so many ways we can be agents of goodwill that cost little but mean a great deal.

I BELIEVE the ham-fisted responses by the governments to the pandemic are a classic example of how not to do things.

Coronavirus does not pose a significant threat to humanity. The daily death toll pales in comparison to common influenza, motor vehicle accidents, preventable medical errors and even falling out of bed (literally hundreds die from this annually).

Shutting down the global economy will impose a far greater total health burden on us than the disease. Mass job losses and business failures will lead to suicides, family breakdowns and significant economic disadvantage - which precipitates poor health outcomes, both mental and physical.

We should have focussed on isolating and thereby minimising the risk to those most vulnerable, and allowing everyone else to go about their business. Calls to close schools, impose lockdowns and other hysterical measures should be dismissed.

In decades to come this event will be a classic case study in how government overreach, fuelled by media hysteria, does more harm than good.

I RETURNED home yesterday from Vietnam via Da Nang and Hanoi. In these airports, everyone wore face masks including all staff. Also, speaker systems reminded people of their requirements to help stop the spread. All personnel on both aircraft wore masks, as did all crew.

I was surprised when we arrived at Sydney to see the only ones with masks were passengers. No airport staff - including security, cleaners and even those controlling and handling foods - were ever seen to be wearing masks, and in my opinion it showed they never seemed to care about the virus.

We have been told to self-isolate for 14 days, which we intend to do, but what is the point? This is one area where I believe strict controls need to be in place, but it appears that some of those responsible think otherwise.

YOUR report that Bishop Bill Wright claims the ABC's program Revelation is taking a sensationalist approach (''Devil holding Christ'', Herald 16/3) bears consideration. However, when compared with the swift and brutal way Jesus advised his followers to treat child abusers, Sarah Ferguson's program seems quite restrained.

While being only too ready to be gentle with adulterers and promise Heaven to thieves, Jesus ordered his followers to place millstones around the necks of paedophiles and their like and summarily throw them into sea. To make matters more dramatic, Jesus made no provision for the deviant to repent or be afforded divine forgiveness. Surely that's sensationalism in biblical proportions.

PERHAPS the powers that be that are self-isolating could read this and cost it out. The great Gods of Economics could always strike me down for blasphemy.

Here goes: is it possible for the banks and lending institutions, and perhaps all companies, forego profits for the greater good instead of survival of the fittest, which will probably sink them all?

As a fiscal measure, protect your customers as well as yourselves, freeze payments on houses, loans, and for businesses needing to close for a limited period.

Would the effect of this be to allow the citizens of the country to survive the crisis? The cost to your institutions would be brief and sustainable, whereas the collapse of society would see your institutions go under. The ability of your clients to continue to pay later without penalty gives you a better outcome. The effect in the long term would encourage restoration of order and profit to companies. The rental property market, both domestic and commercial would do well to do the same lest their clients also go under, pulling them down.

My suggestion seems heresy, but costing this out to the whole system should allow a quick recovery.

The idiocy in the idea is that none of the powers that be will surrender for a minute to the greater good. Sadly, it is likely that they will mirror the greedy few, hoarding all they have to protect it from everyone else.

As ever, I live thinking good thoughts and hope for the best. Stay well.

WHILE the world strains waging war against this new virus, we see teams spraying and wiping vast tracts of surfaces with disinfectants that will kill 99.9 per cent of all germs (virus particles and bacteria too, presumably). Forgive the Cassandra overtones, but isn't this the same practice that has bred a number of deadly superbugs in hospitals for which there are no effective antibiotics?

GOOD luck, Margaret Neal (Short Takes, 17/3). You say you're never shopping at Coles again because they won't put your name down for toilet paper, but you will find the same situation in any supermarket you go to. So I would suggest that, with that position, you will starve. Congratulations; in my opinion you have just joined the all-about-me club which is expanding much quicker than the coronavirus itself.

WHILE waiting in line for Woolworths Cardiff to open for seniors on Wednesday, I found it so kind and generous that a girl from Bakers Delight was walking up the line offering a Hot Cross Bun to the people waiting in the line. Thank you so much.

CHECK out Happy Wombat Cafe Bar on Hunter Street for a business doing the right thing by its customers ('Local support needed', Herald 18/3). Best wishes to all journalists everywhere, always.

I READ that when people arrive in Australia they have to self-isolate for 14 days ('Self-isolation imposed for all arrivals', Herald 16/3). Why can't the government just stop the planes coming in? It's simple. And on another note, when people go shopping just do your normal shop instead of panic buying, then everyone would be okay.

THE most ironic thing about those taking and hoarding toilet paper is that they probably have a level of neurosis which is sufficiently high to make them anal retentive.

MY understanding is that social distancing advice involves keeping 1.5 metres between groups. Why don't local restaurants place fewer tables to separate groups and publicise this ('Pubs, clubs to adapt but industry takes hit', Herald 19/3)? Half or a third full is better than empty.

EARLY seniors shopping ('Elderly shoppers queue in bid for basics', Herald 18/3) was a success and well managed at Coles Thornton. However, a restock of shelves overnight may alleviate some of the angst.

I THINK the COVID-19 outbreak hasn't run its course. Only 24 intensive beds at the John Hunter Hospital ('Operation COVID-19', Herald 18/3); in my opinion it's time to re-open Wallsend Hospital in preparation.

GLADYS, how many toilet rolls do you have? We have none.