Yahoo News ITV2's decision to air Contagion divides viewers
The UK is on lockdown thanks to the rapid, ongoing spread of the deadly Covid-19, with many now turning for their TVs to comfort as an increasing amount of people have been asked to stay indoors.
While some channels have changed their usual rota of programming to provide a welcome distraction from the almost dystopian news bulletins, ITV2 made the interesting choice to indulge in the sense of panic, by showing the 2011 American thriller film Contagion.
The film, with stars Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow in an all-star cast, sees the world at risk from a virus which was partially spread by bats, seeing major cities put on quarantine.
Contagion has many uncanny similarities to the current crisis, with coronavirus reportedly first stemming from bats, and with the whole world now being asked to socially distance.
Naturally, viewers spotted the similarities, with some questioning the sensitivity of the scheduling on Twitter:
I watched a 2011 film called Contagion last night. It was uncanny the way in which it resembled the advance of today's pandemic, and the steps taken to contain it. The film characters gave the same advice, in the same words, as the government today. #Contagion
— Liz Harris (@lizharrisauthor)
Can't sleep and just watched #Contagion.... Probably shouldn't have done that..
— Rob Gorski (@theautismdad)
Not sure I should be watching #Contagion whilst living through it. 😶😶 pic.twitter.com/T9h4bRi17A
— 🐨 Dark Angel 🐨 (@CallMe_Governor)
If you've not had enough pandemic-ness, #Contagion is on itv2 now...make sure you're sitting at least 2metres from the screen though🍿
— Helen McArdle (@HMcArdleHT)
So the U.K. is in lockdown so the geniuses at itv decide to put #contagion on 🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂🤦🏻♂ pic.twitter.com/FKYgWgsQFE
— Rammyrascal (@rammyrascal)
However, others argued Contagion was essential viewing for those who aren't taking the outbreak too seriously:
Although contagion is such a hard movie to watch at the moment, every single person should watch it. To all those who aren’t taking this lockdown seriously this is what will happen. Please stay safe everyone #Contagion
— Jodie_maix (@JodieMaixo)
Seriously cannot believe the amount of wet wipes on here tonight complaining about @itv2 showing this film #Contagion ! Now is the perfect time for the general population to watch it and realise how serious it is and to stop treating this time like a sunny BH weekend! 🤦♀
— JP (@lizzybennett21)
Currently, the UK has more than 11,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 578 confirmed deaths.
Europe is now considered the epicentre of the outbreak, however, the United States now has the most confirmed cases worldwide, with over 85,000 confirmed suffering from Covid-19.
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