‘You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat’: Similarities Between Jaws and COVID-19

Warning and Disclaimer: If you are easily offended by any attack, real or perceived, on the real or perceived seriousness of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), or you are offended when cold, hard numbers are presented rather than emotions, do not read this article. This is an average man’s attempt to express many people’s frustration resulting from the medical and governmental actions and reactions in the midst of this pandemic panic. If you choose to continue reading, you do so at your own risk. Note that this is an attack on the government in general. No party is praised or vilified more or less than the other(s), all sides have contributed. Any increase in blood pressure, anger towards me, or head-shaking disbelief is solely on you for proceeding. You have been warned. Do not comment unless you keep it professional and courteous. And remember, we can disagree and still be friends.

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I was six years old in the summer of 1975. My dad took me to see Jaws - in the movie theater. In today’s world, that might be viewed as child abuse, but I loved it.  

Yes, I was afraid to put my feet on the floor (could be sharks down there); yes, I refused to go to the bathroom for a couple hours (there was water, could be sharks); yes, I was scared of sharks – for a few days. But…I got over the fear. 

I own the DVD so I can watch Jaws anytime. And 45 years later, it’s still one of my favorite movies. 

What’s that got to do with COVID-19, you ask? Well, there are a lot of fascinating similarities between the movie and international reaction to the coronavirus. 

The Reality of Fear or the Fear of Reality 

Soon after the first shark attack victim is examined by the coroner, Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) issues an order to close the beach. Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) intercepts Chief Brody to convince him to not close the beaches just prior to prime tourist season. 

With the coroner along, Mayor Vaughn tells Brody that it’s not uncommon for someone to go swimming, get tired and be mutilated by the blades of a boat motor. The coroner “agrees” and tells Brody that the death reports will need to be modified. 

At this point, Mayor Vaughn pulls Chief Brody aside and explains the reality of fear. 

“You yell, ‘barracuda,’ everybody says, ‘uh, what.’ After a long pause, “You yell ‘shark,’ we’ve got a panic on our hands on the fourth of July.” 

You yell, “flu” and everybody says, “uh, what.” You yell “coronavirus” and we’ve got a panic on our hands.  

Scientists Versus Governments 

In what might be the most humorous scene (and there were several), the scientist, the police chief and the mayor square off in front of a billboard vandalized by some teenagers. You know the one depicting the lady on a surfboard crying “Help, Shark!!!” with a huge fin following close behind her. 

During the exchange, Mayor Vaughn states, “I don’t think either one of you are familiar with our problems.” Of course, he’s referring to the financial impact of closing the beaches on the fourth of July. He understands that the islanders’ financial well being depends on the tourists. Creating a panic is bad for the economy. Sound familiar? Do the results look familiar? 

Marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) responds, “Uh, I think I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites you in the…um, let’s say arse.” 

Sounds like something the medical community was yelling at President Trump. 

The exchange continues. Hooper states, “Mr. Vaughn, what we are dealing with here is a perfect engine, an eating machine. It’s really a miracle of evolution. All this machine does is swim and eat and make little sharks – and that’s all.” This seems to be what the medical community is claiming about the coronavirus. All it does is float in the air, live on surfaces, sicken people, kill people and replicate itself – and that’s all. 

After Hooper says that the proportions indicated by the billboard are correct, Mayor Vaughn responds, “Love to prove that wouldn’t you? Get your name in the National Geographic.” Oh, you don’t think some scientist see this as an opportunity to make a name for themselves? That is why the major discoveries made by scientist around the world aren’t being reported. Take a look at the medical journals and you will discover:

• Scientist in Australia have discovered people recover from COVID-19 like they would the flu and say they can cure the virus (Nature Medicine)
• Newsweek reported on several very old individuals (over 90 years old) who have fully recovered.
• Israeli scientist say they have developed a vaccine that will soon be available.
• Harvard reports that 99% of those infected will survive.

Mayor Vaughn orders the beaches to remain open. Again, financial realities are the basis for his decision - a decision that makes him a villain later in the film. 

A Hoax 

Hundreds, maybe even a thousand tourists pour onto Amity Island on July 4th. Shops are full, the arcade is full (one kid playing “Killer Shark”), but no one is going into the water. Even though the beaches are full, no one is taking part in the prime attraction of the island. Sort of like no one going about their daily lives. 

Mayor Vaughn looks around in dismay as he considers the economic impact if people begin to leave early because they get bored just sitting around the beach. In an attempt to get people in the water, Mayor Vaughn convinces what must be one of the town leaders to take his family into the water. 

Reluctantly, the gentleman takes his wife and, what appears to be, his grandchildren into the water. The looks of fear on their faces are, themselves, unnerving. 

Once everyone sees that nothing has happened (they didn’t get eaten), the entire beach empties and the water is full of people. Even a few older women dip their feet into the surf. 

After a couple minutes of splashing and revelry - a fin appears. A large fin, moving stealthily through the water – unnoticed. Unnoticed until a teenage girl sees it, yells “s-s-s-shark” and bolts for the beach. 

Everyone panics. Hundreds of people head for the shore. Some people are injured by the rushing hoard. 

The ocean is empty; Coast Guard boats surround the fin. Armed men aim their rifles at the supposed creature. It’s a tense moment! 

The fin tips and two pre-teens appear. They look up to several weapons pointed in their direction. 

One kid looks up and says in a trembling voice, “He made me do it.” A moment of levity and even comic relief. 

As the coast guard pulls the kids out of the water, they call into shore to tell everyone it was just a hoax. Everyone calms down, until another scream diverts everyone’s attention and panics everyone again. 

A teenage girl yells that the shark is in the pond. 

Rather than attacking the beach area where everyone was playing around, the shark went into the pond where there was a small group of kids (who were quarantined to the pond by Chief Brody) and a guy in a rowboat. Approximately .003% of the population is currently infected with the coronavirus (it’s a small pond).  

The Politician is Vilified 

Chief Brody pulls his uninjured, yet in-shock, son from the pond and takes him to the emergency room. Mayor Vaughn walks or rather staggers into the emergency room area looking dazed and confused, mumbling something about only thinking about the town. 

Brody forces Vaughn into an empty examining area and tells the Mayor that he IS going to pay for and do whatever it takes to rid the island of the shark. Mayor Vaughn is too dazed to argue and gives the chief anything he wants. And once he signed the order, there was no way to take it back. 

Politicians are dazed and confused and are not leading right now. They are victimized by the panic and giving scientist anything and everything they want. Worse, it has gotten so bad that no politician can take a stand against the pandemic panic – it would be political suicide. 

Who would have thought a governor would order 40 million people to stay inside. Worse, who would have thought 40 million people would allow its government to tell them they can’t go about their daily lives. And people in multiple states and communities are bowing to this directive. 

If any politician takes a stand now and dares to tell America it’s time to stop worrying and start working, they will be crucified. Fear and panic are at a frenzied level. 

The Reality of the Numbers 

What real leaders have right now is a marketing problem. What do I mean, marketing problem? Well, if perception isn’t reality, all you have is a marketing problem. The perception created by the news and promulgated by politicians is that this thing, this virus, is going to kill everyone. Well, it’s not! In fact, most people who get it aren’t even going to get that sick. 

According to Harvard (and mentioned earlier), this is not going to kill a statistically significant number of people. Harvard predicts that 99% of the people who contract the virus will recover. 

Look at it this way, approximately 0.003% of the population is currently infected (that is 3 out of every 100,000 people, not a big number). Let’s assume the number of infections skyrockets to 0.5% (1/2 of 1%) (5 out of every 1,000), and this is a big assumption given the current curve. If 99% of the people survive, worldwide this is a 0.005% death rate. Even if death rates climb to 5%, this still equates to only 0.025% of the worldwide population dying from the virus. A 10% death rate equates to only 0.05% of the population ultimately dying from this virus.   

Worldwide, 95 percent of the cases are considered mild. So, contracting COVID-19 is far from a death sentence. 

When we look back at the movie, a grand total of five people and one dog die from the shark. Of the hundreds of people who were in the water over the many days leading up to July 4th, and on July 4th itself, the only victims were:

• Chrissie Watkins (the skinny dipper);
• Alex Kintner;
• Ben Gardner (when his head pops out of the boat, I still scream – even though I know it’s coming);
• The guy in the rowboat in the pond (no name ever given); and
• Captain Quint (Robert Shaw).

Of all the possible targets, five people died. Maybe two percent of all the people were actually killed, and one of them went looking for the shark (Quint). A fear of the water ran through the the country because of five deaths on the movie screen. Millions abandoned the water that season. 

Don’t misunderstand, this is tragic for the victim’s families (except Quint’s). No one will deny the tragedy and pain felt by the individual victims; but we have to remember that anyone in the water had a very high chance of survival. Let’s get back in the water. 

The Bad News 

A named virus is a lot like a dog or cat; once you name it, you own it and are emotionally tied to it. We named the virus and now we have an emotional reaction to it.  

Relating or trying to explain to anyone that the numbers are on our side is considered politically incorrect. You are ostracized, criticized and vilified for your lack of caring. Don’t believe me, tell people you are not worried, and you think the hype is irrational and see what response you get. Especially if you question the quarantines (which proved to actually worsen the situation in Italy). 

The argument, “Well, if it saves just one life,” is also irrational. Take that idea to its logical conclusion and you would outlaw driving (3,287 people die everyday) and taking showers (about one person a day dies in a shower or bathtub accident). 

But the worst news – and this scares me most of all - Jaws spawned sequels. Three very bad movies came out of it. Since we as a people appear willing to giving our liberties away to the government, in spite of the reality of the numbers, what happens when the next shark appears on the horizon? The next time there is a named virus? Are we just going to give in to the unknown and fear and blindly follow the government? 

Get back in the water! Go back to work! Even if there is a shark around, your chances are extremely high you will make it back to shore unharmed.