ONE measure of this truly modern virus has been the extraordinary number of online memes it has spawned.
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Many have been quite funny, many have been quite dark and many, many of them have involved toilet paper.
A few, though, have actually been quite thought-provoking, like this:
"If the coronavirus has taught us anything it is the length people will go to when desperate. Next time you want judge boat people, refugees, migrants fleeing wartorn lands, remember we fought over toilet paper."
What do you think?
One thing this pandemic crisis has starkly illustrated is just how privileged we have become in this country.
We are not used to seeing empty shelves at the supermarket. We are not used to the idea that the particular product we want to buy might not be there today, and may not be there tomorrow.
We are not used to having restrictions imposed on where we may go, whether that's just a trip to the football or a trip overseas.
Of course, there is no shame in any of that and we rightly celebrate the fact we live in such a prosperous, free country. But perhaps it doesn't hurt to be reminded occasionally that that is not the case for every country, nor every family.
As uncomfortable as we may have found some of the changes thrown our way in recent weeks, it's worth remembering that we still enjoy great privilege when compared to most other corners of the world.
And, given the impact the past few weeks have had on our lives, it's worth taking a moment to consider just how we might react in the face of much greater turmoil and much greater danger.
Co-ordinated teams of hoarders aside, one reason we're seeing more empty supermarket shelves is that people are grabbing a few extras each time they go to the shops.
It might be an extra bag of rice here, some extra pasta there and a quick pack of toilet paper just because we were lucky to spot one on the shelf.
It's happening because people, understandably, do not want to see their family caught short.
So imagine if the stakes were much higher for your family and you were trapped in a country at war. What would you do then? Would you pay a people smuggler? Would you jump the queue?
The comfortable and privileged have no right to judge the distressed and desperate.