Steven Soderbergh’s movie Contagion chillingly predicted the coronavirus pandemic almost a decade ago.
The 2011 film, starring Matt Damon, is now streaming on Netflix and the disturbing similarities are freaking people out.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, here are seven facts the Hollywood blockbuster gets completely right.
1. It started in China
In the movie, the MEV1 virus outbreak starts in China.
The fictional disease originates from a bat and infects patient zero at a live animal market.
Coronavirus is also believed to come from bats and reportedly started in a wet market in Wuhan.
2. Washing hands
Kate Winslet’s character warns that the MEV1 virus is spread through people touching their faces.
She explains that the average person touches their face up to 3,000 times a day – and it has deadly consequences.
This is also the case with coronavirus.
In fact, the Government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of washing hands and avoiding touching the face.
Health officials have also urged people to ensure they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to kill harmful germs.
3. The toll on health workers
In the movie, Kate’s character (a leading scientist) dies while trying to treat patients and cure the virus.
She noticeably isn’t wearing efficient personal protective equipment (PPE).
Devastatingly, this is happening now in real life.
Several frontline nurses and doctors have contracted coronavirus and have sadly lost their lives while trying to save others.
READ MORE: Contagion is on TV and people are furious
4. Asymptomatic patients
Matt Damon’s character is immune to MEV1.
He has no symptoms and is not affected at all by the virus.
We later find out that there are countless others like him.
Although that’s great news for the lucky few, the danger is that they’re still carriers and are spreading the virus unknowingly.
This is of course happening now in real life.
5. Conspiracy theories
In the film, Jude Law’s character spreads rumours about the vaccinations.
He tells his loyal army of followers that the jabs could possibly lead to cancer and autism.
The danger here is this false information ultimately costs people their lives.
In reality, there have been countless theories about coronavirus – including that it’s actually caused by 5G.
The Government has spoken out to stress the dangers of spreading fake news.
As Laurence Fishburne’s character sums it up in the film: “In order to get scared all you have to do is come into contact with a rumour.”
6. Panic buying
As people fear shops will run out of stock, they begin panic buying.
In once scene, a riot even breaks out at a pharmacy as customers fight for medication.
Bizarrely, in reality, people have been fighting more so over items like toilet paper.
7. Social distancing
In the film, they make it clear that the most effective weapon they have against the virus is social distancing.
Laurence’s character stresses the importance of staying at home and not shaking hands.
The same thing is currently happening in several countries around the world, including the UK, Spain and Italy.
Contagion is streaming now on Netflix
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