Alan Jones has come under fire after questioning the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on 2GB Monday, the radio host said most people infected with the virus would only get “mild illness”.
“Unless I’m moving in different circles, the almost universal reaction I am getting is that we have gone mad,” he said.
“In this modern world, at the slightest provocation it seems, we revert … to hysteria and alarmism.”
Jones, a climate change denier, described the coronavirus as “the health version of global warming … Exaggeration in almost everything, certainly in description, and certainly in behaviour.”
The 78-year-old’s comments have sparked widespread backlash, with some calling for the shockjock to be taken off air for his “dangerous” and “irresponsible” behaviour.
“I’m not sure downplaying a serious threat is the correct approach when many of his listeners are seniors,” one wrote on social media.
“Time for Channel 9 to shut him down. His bosses may have budgeted for his defamation losses, but what cost human lives lost by fostering ignorance about coronavirus?” another wrote.
Labor MP Stephen Jones said on Twitter, “Alan Jones’ reckless indifference to public health is a disgrace. I look forward to an apology and correction from the broadcaster.”
On Wednesday morning, Jones once again questioned the authorities’ approach to handling the health crisis, saying, “Too bad if the quote-unquote ‘experts’ aren’t right.”
“If Alan Jones thinks it’s a beat up why is he broadcasting in isolation from his home?” a listener wrote.
Jones had been placed in self-isolation after reports emerged that his colleagues at the 2GB Pyrmont studios might have contracted the coronavirus. He is now broadcasting from his property in Fitzroy Falls, NSW.
Jones’ comments came as Victoria, the ACT and South Australia declared public health emergencies. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also placed indefinite bans on overseas travel and non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.
“There is no two-week answer to what we’re confronting. There is no short-term, quick fix to how this is dealt with in Australia,” Morrison said Wednesday morning.
“For most people, those of us who are blessed with good health and are in good condition, then this is a mild condition. For the more vulnerable, for the elderly and those who have other health challenges, this is a far more serious condition for them.
“So it is important that we, who are healthy, those of us who will contract this and have experienced a mild illness, that we do what we can to limit the spread to ensure that those who are more vulnerable are not affected.”
The prime minister also advised against panic buying, saying the government is putting “scalable and sustainable measures” in place.
“Stop hoarding. I can’t be more blunt about it,” he said.
“It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing. What it does is it is distracting attention and efforts that need to be going into other measures, to be focusing on how we maintain supply chains into these shopping centres.”
