In what could be the premise to a so-bad-it's-good dystopian disaster film, the housemates currently participating in Big Brother Germany have only JUST been informed of the coronavirus pandemic, hearing the news during a live TV special event.
The show's contestants entered the house, located in Cologne, on February 6th and had not been informed of the COVID-19 outbreak, nor the extreme self-isolation measures currently being rolled out globally. Four new housemates entered the house last week, but were instructed not to mention the international crisis.
According to , the reality TV show’s host, Jochen Schropp, along with Big Brother Germany's resident physician Andreas Kaniewski informed the contestants about the coronavirus pandemic during a live TV special which aired this morning, with the show's participants reacting emotionally to the shocking news.
According to German broadcaster Sat.1, housemates had the opportunity to ask questions about the situation, while also receiving video messages from quarantined loved ones. Germany's major cities have been locked down in an attempt to 'flatten the curve' of the virus.
Schropp and Kaniewski sat behind safety glass during the live-streamed conversation.
It appears that the show's production will continue, with German's reality-show-voting public essentially being asked to vote contestants out of the ultimate lock-down situation and into a pandemic.
"If this isn't studied by psychologists I will be so disappointed," one social media responded, while international viewers wished they were able to speak German.
As of Tuesday afternoon, only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are advised to be tested.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Coronavirus symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia, according to the Federal Government's website, and can include a fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath.
