How to cope with China virus? Stay in and see "The Flu"

Maoyan Entertainment

22/01/2020 09:54

By Pei Li and Brenda Goh
    Jan 22 (Reuters) - Threatened by a new virus outbreak, many
Chinese have been turning to an online plague simulation game
and a disaster movie called "The Flu" as part of coping
mechanisms. 
    The new flu-like coronavirus has killed nine people and
infected more than 400 in an outbreak originating from the
central city of Wuhan, spreading fear of contagion globally and
rattling financial markets.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N29R10X
    "Plague Inc.", a strategy simulation app by UK-based Ndemic
creations, was by Wednesday the top-paid game on the iOS
operating system on China's Apple Store. It allows users to
create and evolve a pathogen to destroy the world. 
    "The best way to conquer fear is to confront fear," said one
commentator on China's Twitter-like Weibo.
    "Isn't this actually joining the evil force if you cannot
beat the evil force?" joked another.
    South Korean disaster flick "The Flu" was the most
searched-for movie on Chinese media review and social networking
site Douban on Wednesday. A documentary on the 2003 SARS (Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak topped TV searches. 
    Furthermore, 11 out of 14 top-ranked articles on content
platform Toutiao were related to pneumonia, as were over half of
the 50 most-read topics on China's Twitter-like Weibo.  
    The virus outbreak has coincided with China's Lunar New Year
celebrations this weekend when millions travel at home and
abroad for holidays and family reunions. 
    But the usual bonanza for the tourism and consumer
industries may be hit as some people were cancelling trips and
avoiding public areas like cinemas and shopping centres. 
    Blockbuster movies set to premiere over the holiday have
seen sales momentum waning. In Wuhan, moviegoers who had
pre-paid were offered refunds, according to ticket-booking
platforms Maoyan  1896.HK  and Taopiaopiao. 
     "It's understandable the virus could prevent people from
coming to cinemas," lamented one manager at a Beijing cinema,
who asked not to be named. She encouraged people to still come
but to take precautionary measures like wearing masks.

 (Reporting by Pei Li and Brenda Goh; 
Additional Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom;
Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
 ((Pei.Li@thomsonreuters.com; +86 18810385187;))