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?

@AnuvvaMuvva I guess you don't watch the news much?

It's true that a couple of the strains of Coronavirus cause the common cold but this is very much not one of those strains.

The symptoms are dry cough, fever, fatigue and sore throat. These then escalate to a severe flu type illness leading to death for a small proportion.

The proportion is difficult to work out at the moment as it hasn't been long enough - so far 81 have died and 50 or so have recovered. I guess the rest are unknowns at the moment so the mortality rate could go either way. I saw a report suggesting 186 were in a critical condition.

Do you have a thermometer to take DH's temperature?

If you have any concerns you should call 111

I stopped for a moment to think about how I'd manage if I couldn't leave the house in a situation like this and I realised I probably have enough food in tins and the freezer to keep me going for a month if I wasn't being picky. I think a lot of people would be surprised how long they could last on the contents of their cupboards!

I certainly don’t watch the news enough!

I spoke to DH and his team hasn’t traveled in from China recently, I’d got that wrong. So that’s a relief. But he works at an airport (not travelling) and several of his colleagues are ill with colds at the moment. They handle Air China and Shenzhen Airways, but they’re working with cargo, not passengers. He says viruses can’t survive on packages.

He’s not worried at all. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anuvva Some viruses can live on packages but it doesn't appear that this one can so that shouldn't be an issue.

Is there any reassurance that a vaccination was patented for Coronavirus ?

patents.justia.com/patent/10130701

The problem with the respirated death rate for Coronavirus is many deaths are being labelled as pneumonia instead so in fact the deaths could be far higher already

Big jump overnight (for us but daytime in China). 4474 reported cases.

The End of the World is Nigh. Get the drinks in.

Nobody is saying the end of the world is nigh but this is the prepping topic. We pay attention to what is going on in the world and in some situations take precautions.

Confirmed cases. Others will be being tested and waiting results. Some are not being tested.

Just to be clear - this virus can’t be spread on surfaces?

So there is no worry about the huge amount of items that get delivered to the Uk daily?

It can be spread through human to human contact and so yes it can be spread on surfaces. Whether it can last for days on a hard surface - no idea. I don't think there's anyone on the thread who is an expert. But google suggests that corona viruses in general can typically only survive for a few hours on hard surfaces (typically around 3 hours but up to 24). So its not like norovirus which can survive for weeks. Google of course might be completely wrong.

Nemo, no reassurance for this season I'm afraid. It would need to undergo various trials and then of course setting up manufacturing in sufficient quantities would take some time.

Perhaps it will be useful for subsequent years though.

DH had a couple of parcels arrive from China last Friday, he immediately got the antibacterial spray out to spray items and surfaces with (although not sure that would kill a virus but nevertheless he did this) and then promptly threw all packaging straight in the bin after. Then washed hands thoroughly. Probably completely unnecessary but I was quite surprised as I'm known as the worrier in the house!

Oh! I had better get the anti acti bac out when this finally arrives.

It must be a worry for Royal Mail staff

It came from Guangdong which is about 900 miles from Wuhan so fingers crossed

Just remembered I had a delivery arrive on 4th Jan from Shanghai but assume that’s too early. It shows it left China on 1st jan

Sorry, didn't mean to cause worry with my anecdote of DH and his parcel, I was just surprised as he us usually so blasé about these things. His parcel came from a province in lock down, not Wuhan but another one bit too far away.

I can't imagine any virus surviving the journey though. But just in case I'll be a little bit extra cautious, as I am a worrier!

It’s quite a long journey so hopefully it’s too long to survive anything

Otherwise ok sure they’d be putting a stop to it

How do you all function day to day? Even if there was a big outbreak of Coronavirus, we'd still have to go to work or lose our jobs.
Are you all pearl clutching in your mansions?

Wrong thread for you witch

This is for preppers not pearl clutchers

Well, you sound like pearl clutchers. Or women who don't get out much and are scared of your own shadow!
If Wuhan Flu turns into a 'Zombie Apocalypse', you'd be all safe due to lack of brains.

Focus on the real stuff!

Ah bless, witch has only just stumbled onto the preppers topic and thinks she's being witty and original.

And on the contrary to being pearl clutchers who are scared of their own shadow and have a lack of brains we are typically the ones who bother to educate ourselves

I can’t help feel sorry for people who just think things like this are nothing to worry about and bury their heads in the sand

It’s people like that that carry on their business without a care that end up thinking they don’t matter and end up spreading it should it come our way