Prepping for pandemic...

[wheresmymojo]

I was quite blasé about the novel corona virus outbreak but things I've read today have changed my mind.

I'm not usually a prepper but best things to stock up on for a pandemic?

Surgical face masks?
Latex gloves?
Anti bac wipes and hand wash?

Oh I have some water but I am not sure how long it would last.

Went to screwfix on the way home to pick up there remaining masks. “Going to China” they asked!

The point about China can impose order, but if it was say somewhere in Africa then you couldn’t contain and quarantine as easily as China has total authority over its people

My delivery is on it's way. My husband will probably be thinking wtf when he sees my order...

Well I have just seen the news that the people being airlifted from Wuhan are coming to the Wirral which is where I am - and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be incredibly close to my house based on the info they gave which is a little worrying!

Oh no.

There’s definitely a mask shortage. Overheard the Health and Safety people at work talking about the fact that the departments which have staff that need them for their jobs were struggling to get enough stock of both disposables and filters for non-disposables.

I’m fully on board with prepping food, water, medicines, but I’m not convinced masks are something the average person should be buying up.

@bellinisurge

Ah! The "don't spend your own money how you choose because other people want to buy it" argument

No! READ what was clearly explained

IF people buy an excess of things such as Masks there will not be enough for others and more people covering up benefits everyone. Some muppet stockpiling a thousand they’ll never use helps no one.

Jesus, just read what was written.

Hi everyone. I've been watching this thread closely for the past few days. And I've now read that WHO have declared it a global health emergency. I'm now quite worried. What will this mean in terms of travelling abroad?

@Pinkroses21

Yes, I just heard that in the radio, but weirdly he said there’s no reason to restrict trade or travel ?!?!??

Risk of it spreading to UK has been raised from low to. Moderate

Thanks Amelie, exactly. Hoarding masks could affect everyone's general safety.

I've namechanged because I've been posting on this thread and I don't want people to link that with my location.
I feel sick.
I also live on the Wirral and very close to the place they will be quarantined. I actually drove past earlier in disbelief.

What would you all be doing in this situation. It's annoying me that the local response on social media is that we have such good facilities that's why they are being sent here and nobody is worried.

I'm very worried. I think they are being sent here in particular because it's easy to lock down and shut off cutting off everybody inside as we are a peninsula.

I'm assuming they won't be able to go outside the hospital?

Wellidid - that’s what everyone at my kids karate class was saying tonight!

I would be ok if it were a place local to me. They will be confined for two weeks and tested regularly. If anyone tests positive it will be detected quickly before any contacts can become infectious.
I do actually trust Public Health England on this, we are well prepared. I don't trust government responses, but that's a separate issue and not related to this.

What is more worrying is the man who may have had it wandering round Birmingham.

I forgot about him Susan! I wonder if he tested negative eventually?

Why not burn the place down, that seems to be your mindset?

Re the Birmingham guy - I assume his case was included in the latest negative results from PHE.

I think I would be ok with it locally as the risk from a random person at not on quarantine is probably greater.

I don’t think there is reason to worry that it’s local to you. I think we’ve definitely learnt our lesson from Pauline Cafferkey (the nurse who lied about her symptoms and had contracted Ebola) - absolutely no allowing people to self report symptoms and taking their word for it, I think they will be fairly heavily monitored for symptoms and action swiftly taken.

It’s going to be tough for those in quarantine though; and they do have my sympathy - especially those children who have had to leave parents behind due to citizenship clashes.

I also don't think there's anything to worry about. They will be fully quarantined and everyone will be conscious of taking the utmost care as these are people who have been at the epicentre so they will be fully aware of all the risks.

If it comes to the UK my bet is it will be some random wandering around, not any kind of official quarantine.

It's amusing to read the other threads popping up now - lots of misinformation on them.

Seem to swing wildly between there's nothing to worry about. It's only the same as the flu (not correct)....and complete and utter panic (not necessary).

It is worse than the flu but it really isn't worth panicking about at this stage (or really ever, panic doesn't help). Still no local epidemics outside of China.