[LiverpoolWalrus]

I initially felt like you, OP, but a few things changed my mind:

1. People hoard because they want to limit their visits to stores to reduce their chances of exposure (although I agree that's no excuse for a shopping cart overflowing with toilet paper, Purell, gloves and other supplies and depriving those who really need them).

2. Yes, there are more cases of the flu every year, but does the flu cause countries to run out of hospital beds and ventilators?

3. So what if the safeguards and precautions are overkill? If the guidelines are more than what's needed but cause this thing to pass sooner, so much the better. <Edit: after I submitted this I realized I need to give this more thought. Is the overkill worth taking away people's livelihoods and crashing the stock market? Not sure.>

4. Most important in my mind on the subject of hoarding...it's a psychological response. I'm a bit more compassionate about those people now that I know that it's a reaction to having lost control. When people feel like something is out of their control, they do something, anything, to make them feel like they're regaining some control over their lives. Remember after 9/11, about half or more of the cars on the road had American flags installed in little cups on their windows? Same thing.