I’m certainly more vigilant and wash my hands more often, but I don’t see a need to stockpile grocery or toiletry items. Almost entire China is under lockdown for more than a month, and there is no sign there of any shortage of food and other everyday items. The situation here is not even comparable.
I’m stockpiling worry - I cannot look at the stock market anymore - and I have no idea what my 529 looks like; I’m too afraid to look! Other than that, our business (in Asia) is running on slo-mo - so, yes…stockpiling worry.
WE usually have enough to last more than 2 weeks here. (paper goods included) it also seems like business as usual. I was just doing domestic travel for work, but have nothing planned for March right now work-wise. Was planning on meeting D17 in S. Florida to visit my mom. The only thing is that she was suppose to go to disney first, and now thinking if that would be a good idea or not. Hoping all the conferences in April I had intended to go will not be cancelled. pain in the neck to undo expenses.
I switched from crappy Mexican beers to tastier craft IPA’s so as to avoid that pesky CoronaVirus. Ba-Dum-Bum…
I did a few HUGE shopping runs this week (store, Costco, and BJs). As part of the 20 for 2020 list, I cleaned out all of our food cupboards and so we were low on many things that I always keep on hand. In anticipation of cleaning them out, I was not purchasing as much “cupboard stocks” in the new year. The pantries were all cleaned last weekend, so it seemed to make sense to stock back up - soups, soup stock, peanut butter, jams, pasta, coffee, etc… This would have been the case virus or no virus but I did it a bit more abruptly in one week rather than over several weeks.
I also did an online purchase of specific things that I knew the kids would need in the coming months for their sport or activities or for college (running shoes, hiking boots, socks, gear, etc…) in the event shortages from overseas cause prices to rise or stocks to decline. Everything would have been purchased anyway over the next month or two so it made sense to get it now while it is still in stock and normal price.
I did order specialized cat food because my cat will be running out of it in a month. The ingredients are sourced in Asia. A large bad lasts several months, so that will take us through any supply chain issues. My other two (the avatars) can last on human food if needed. After all, they are Felis catus dumpstearii. 
I am also monitoring airfares and hotel deals for some quick Hawaiian getaways.
As a business owner whose employees deal with the public, we purchased more soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, etc. We are urging employees to wipe down door handles, keyboards and phones daily.
I live in Kirkland, WA. According to the NYT, it is estimated that somewhere between 300-500 people have coronavirus in WA state right now. The virus has mild symptoms for 80% of the population, which is why it is spreading like wildfire-- people don’t know they have it, and think they have a cold or flu or whatnot and return to work or school when they are still contagious. For most people, having the Corona virus is no big deal.
The real problem is for some of our vulnerable populations. No children are dying, and you are very unlikely to die if you are under the age of 60 unless you have a pre-existing health condition. The real issue that I see is spreading this to our elderly population and people with health conditions-- many, many people in the U. S. will get the corona virus, and they will be just fine.
For the sake of the vulnerable, we should try to slow down the progression of the pandemic so that hospitals and health care workers aren’t overwhelmed. We want this to be a slow burn over a long period of time rather than a short but big burst. In order to do this, this may mean limiting travel and public events-- not because the Corona virus is super dangerous to the majority of people, but because it is very dangerous to a minority and, while our health care is very good, our number of hospitals and doctors are limited.
I think it’s really important to understand that we are in this together as a country, so while many of us will get the Corona virus and be fine, we really need to think about how not to spread it-- especially when we may not know we have it.
If you need supplies for your home and are waiting, please go get them now. Once we had the first death in WA, everyone flooded the stores and now we have no hand sanitizer, toilet paper, bleach, etc. There is no need to panic, but you should have supplies to get you and your family through a cold or flu-like illness at home so you don’t have to go out and potentially infect people. If you need supplies, don’t wait. I think the literally thousands of people who went to Costco over the course of this weekend was exactly the opposite of what this state needed.
Nothing. Just going about our lives normally and it seems most others in our area are doing the same. Restaurants are packed, people are walking around and using public transportation, store shelves are well stocked… it’s not a concern here as far as I can tell.
I did a big grocery run last week even though ordinarily I’d be paring down before Passover. Wiping down the common computer in classrooms at work, and keeping an eye on the situation in case I need to start bringing my laptop home in case school closes down. Ducking and covering whenever I hear stock market news. But otherwise, things are as normal as they ever get around here.
What’s there to do really? Waiting and watching. Hopeful it won’t be bad. But honestly, a growing sense of dread.
In my social media I’m seeing people dismiss the “sheeple buying toilet paper.” Well, I am one of those people and I don’t care if people roll their eyes at me; I am now set for a good two or more months of quarantine for me and DS21 if necessary. I’m also set for him to cook for himself if I get really sick, with easy to prepare foods (he’s a typical teenage boy who loves to eat but has no interest in cooking). I bought nothing that I wouldn’t have bought over time anyway, and it will all be used - nothing will be wasted. And I won’t have to spend so much time shopping for a while!
I stocked up at Target, Albertsons, and Trader Joes. I’m pretty sure I will catch this virus - I have a terrible immune system even though I’ve always been obsessive about hand-washing and face-touching - and I want my son to be okay while I’m out of commission. And I don’t want him to live on In-N-Out and Chick-Fil-A for a month.
Well, I’ve now stocked up on newborn diapers. I probably have 2 months worth on the way. I was hoping to wait until baby actually got here but I’d rather have them and return them than not have them because people have lost it.
This is turning out to be an inconveniently timed child ?
Although China controls its people, it can also be paternalistic and has the centralized government that can quickly move to take care of its people. Not confident our government can replicate that if needed.
I did have a moment at the grocery store today where I was picking some nectarines from a display and there was a woman next to me wearing a mask (who knows why - could be Corona or could be otherwise) BUT it did dawn on me that we all probably handle a couple pieces of fruit/veggie/ or other stuff before we pick the ones we want. Hands on items in the grocery store EVERYWHERE.
I didn’t worry about it but it was food for thought (literally!). So, I WILL be more viligant about washing fruit and veggies!!
I am wondering also as @BunsenBurner mentioned if airfare and such will go up? Or down?
From JetBlue last week:
Due to evolving coronavirus concerns, we are suspending JetBlue change and cancel fees for all new flight bookings made between February 27, 2020 and March 11, 2020 for travel through June 1, 2020.
@romanigypsyeyes Doesn’t that make you “one of the people who has lost it” if you are purchasing months worth of something that you would not do if not for the virus? If I remember correctly, you are also one who wrote about trying to track down purell online and in stores. I imagine that others who are buying newborn diapers are also pregnant, just like you, or have a new baby at home - something that they will need. Doesn’t seem like a product people horde or purchase without a specific need, so your point of view is interesting. I am not sure what makes you any different than anyone else purchasing diapers who wants to have them on hand. Most people find that prudent instead of reactionary or crazy and many, many expectant moms have supplies on hand prior to the birth either for convenience or for financial reasons.
Romani, aren’t you and Mr. Romani tall people? You might think about bigger sizes of things than newborn size. Fang Jr. was out of newborn sizes at birth.
I recall when the statistics for West Nile Virus were universally quoted as “Most people will have no symptoms and 20% will have mild symptoms “. The definition of “mild” from the medical community is disease that does not require hospitalization. I had West Nile as did several of my friends. We were incapacitated with headaches and malaise for weeks, and two friends continue to have unexplained fatigue, years later. The full consequences of Covid-19 will not be known for years, especially for the 20% who require hospitalization.
How was the young Chinese doctor compromised such that he did not survive, do we know that yet?