Elon Musk tweet about ‘dumb’ coronavirus panic gets 1.6 million likes

‘As someone with severe heart issues, I find this tweet irresponsible,’ Twitter user says

Elon Musk has been the target of cryptocurrency scammers on Twitter, who have sought to capitalize from his cult-like status (Getty Images for Huffington Post)

Elon Musk has provoked a huge online response after tweeting that the panic surrounding the Covid-19 coronavirus is “dumb”.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss, who has nearly 32 million followers on Twitter, received nearly 40,000 replies to his tweet, as well as 1.6 million ‘likes’.

“The coronavirus panic is dumb,” he tweeted, followed by an image mocking toilet paper shortages caused by panic buying.

The picture showed a toilet roll wrapped in gold ribbon in a display case. “Toilet paper $3,999,” a sign beside it states. “Free one-carat diamond ring with purchase.”

Some of the more severe aspects of the outbreak were acknowledged by Mr Musk, who also wrote: “Ships with a lot of people and limited medical facilities are a serious issue”.

There have been more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, resulting in 76 deaths. Worldwide, the outbreak has seen 111,000 infections and close to 4,000 deaths.

Many of the replies to Mr Musk’s tweet claimed that he was underplaying the severity of the deadly virus, with some pointing to projections of future infections while noting that there is currently no vaccine.

“As someone with severe heart issues, I find this tweet irresponsible,” one Twitter user replied. “Just because you are one of the richest people in America who has every opportunity, some like me can and will die.”

Others supported Mr Musk, claiming that sensational media coverage had prompted unnecessary panic buying and food shortages.

In February, Tesla temporarily closed its stores in mainland China in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It is not the first time Mr Musk has sparked controversy on Twitter. In 2019, he was cleared by a US jury of defamation after a British diver sought $190m (£145m) for comments Mr Musk had made on the social media site.

Despite the controversy, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has described him as his favourite person on Twitter.

“I like how Elon Musk uses Twitter,” Mr Dorsey wrote during a live-tweeted interview. “He’s focussed on solving existential problems and sharing his thinking openly. I respect that a lot and all the ups and downs that come with it.”​