Global reactions have been rolling in on social media after the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared tips with the world on how to survive a zombie pandemic.

Among those who jumped into the discussion was Jamaican dancehall artiste, Popcaan, who tweeted “So covid first, now we have to be on the zombie lookout.”

The well-known artiste’s tweet went viral and is now receiving vast responses ranging from a level of profound seriousness to amusement and disbelief.

While some Jamaican Twitter users stated the readiness for a zombie apocalypse, others urged the Numbers Don’t Lie artiste to not take the COVID-19 vaccine claiming that a possible side effect is becoming a zombie
@SmartNPretty wrote: “That’s the result of taking that rushed vaccine i believe.”

The CDC’s zombie apocalypse advice highlighted the prophecy of 17th Century French astrologer, Michel De Notredame, known to most as Nostradamus, who claimed that 2021 would be the year of a zombie pandemic.

USA Today, wrote in a report last Friday (March 5): “In the midst of providing guidelines on an unprecedented pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control updated its tips to prepare for another extreme occurrence: A zombie apocalypse.”

The CDC’s campaign offers lesson plans for educators on zombie apocalypse readiness, as well as a downloadable poster which reads: “Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Prepared.”

The practical guidelines of CDC’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’ campaign are as follows:

Step 1: Create an emergency kit with essentials to last a few days. The kit should include:
• Water (1 gallon per person per day)
• Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
• Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
• Tools and Supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.)
• Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
• Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
• Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
• First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)

Step 2: Create an emergency exit plan when a zombie, or a hurricane, is outside your door.
This entails making a list of your emergency contacts, picking a place to evacuate to and make an evacuation plan, which includes a designated meeting place for you and those you live with to regroup.

The CDC included no advice on ‘how to combat’ if one should encounter a zombie.

Our Today says: “Get the longest, sharpest weapon and then RUN to a possible hideout, the only time you FIGHT is if you’re out of options. Also, watch The Walking Dead.”

Don’t get your hopes up, though, there won’t likely be a zombie apocalypse anytime soon.

The CDC’s guidelines for a zombie apocalypse is just a fantastical scenario aimed at driving interest in disaster preparedness overall.