03-01-2020, 02:49 PM
Sorry this is a kinda heavy topic for The Lounge, but not sure where else it would go... Anyway, just wondering if anyone here is preparing for the possibility of that coronavirus spreading a lot more?
I don't want to panic, but nor do I want to be complacent. Hand hygiene seems the thing individuals can do the most about. I don't have a respirator, and even if I did I can't wear a mask 24/7. So I gave some thought to what I could meaningfully do, and that came back to hands.
All the little bottles of hand gel are running out in shops, so I went to a chemical supply company and bought a lot of alcohol gel. The amount is really excessive, but the company supplies labs and stuff so they weren't just going to sell me 16oz of the stuff so I ended up with a couple of gallons! Anyway, I've been refilling existing bottles and topping up for friends, family, and neighbours.
In terms of food, well I've already got a lot of tinned and dried food so I'm not worried about that. However I noticed a local supermarket was incredibly busy today, which is unusual for a Sunday. I think we are on the verge of panic buying.
I have elderly parents so I'm buying a lot of things to try and protect them... masks, gloves, thermometer, cough syrup, ibuprofen. But there is only so much you can do. For example, my father is one of those people who doesn't wash his hands, which I've always found disgusting (much as I love him!). Trying to explain to him that simply washing his hands properly might be the difference between catching this virus or not just seems to go over his head.
Anyone else prepping or changing their plans? Or do you think it'll basically just be a nasty cough and people are getting too hysterical?
I don't want to panic, but nor do I want to be complacent. Hand hygiene seems the thing individuals can do the most about. I don't have a respirator, and even if I did I can't wear a mask 24/7. So I gave some thought to what I could meaningfully do, and that came back to hands.
All the little bottles of hand gel are running out in shops, so I went to a chemical supply company and bought a lot of alcohol gel. The amount is really excessive, but the company supplies labs and stuff so they weren't just going to sell me 16oz of the stuff so I ended up with a couple of gallons! Anyway, I've been refilling existing bottles and topping up for friends, family, and neighbours.
In terms of food, well I've already got a lot of tinned and dried food so I'm not worried about that. However I noticed a local supermarket was incredibly busy today, which is unusual for a Sunday. I think we are on the verge of panic buying.
I have elderly parents so I'm buying a lot of things to try and protect them... masks, gloves, thermometer, cough syrup, ibuprofen. But there is only so much you can do. For example, my father is one of those people who doesn't wash his hands, which I've always found disgusting (much as I love him!). Trying to explain to him that simply washing his hands properly might be the difference between catching this virus or not just seems to go over his head.
Anyone else prepping or changing their plans? Or do you think it'll basically just be a nasty cough and people are getting too hysterical?