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?

Does anyone know where you can get reasonably priced face masks from here in the U.K.? Everywhere I’m looking at is out of stock, only expensive ones left and I can’t afford to spend a lot as I’m looking to stock up on some other bits.

You could try builders merchants

Parker Merchanting or Greenhams have trade counters and you can call before hand to check they have FFP3’s

(Are FFP3’s ok?!)

lots of the cheaper ones sold out on the screwfix site

Hi Mumsnet preppers... I am terrified of 2019-nCoV!

I am having difficulty understanding if my concern is real or just my anxiety winding me up? Either way I'm terrified!

It seems that it is a zoonotic and chimeric virus, it has novel characteristics, so it can mutate to make itself a better virus (or a crapper virus). It seems transmittable through the usual 5 infection channels.
It is suggested that the virus is infectious from infection +3hrs to infection +400 hours. It has also been suggested that there may be no symptoms other than cold/flu symptoms until infection +200hrs. So lots of time for the infected to infect others. There also seems to be a high R0, at around R3/R4.
A 2 week incubation period means the World is 2 weeks behind the true infection picture.
In short... It could be bad? Or am I being a "Drama Llama"?
Anyone want to tell me I'm an idiot?
OP what do you think?

With regards to prepping list:

• 2 full face gas masks, Carbon filter and external filter pads (N95). Enough filters and pads for 2 months.
• Full head helmet with powered filtration and airflow, filters as above. (hoping will do for 2 yr DD).
• Surgical masks x200 (for visitors?)
• PP3 particulate masks x 50 (for visitors?)
• hand gel... lots of it.
• various bleach sprays, cleaning kit, wipes, Bleach and more bleach.
• 4 buckets, 2 watering cans (decontamination if required).
• plastic sheets (decorating sheets etc)
• Rubbish bags.
• First aid kit.
• Duct tape (lots of it)
• Gloves latex
• sponges, scrubbing brush (for decon)
• big tub of vaseline (helps mask seal)
• Protection (lots of spiky, sharp things)

• Also water food etc in case of quarantine (but a different list!).

Also trying to think about my behaviour, not shaking hands or kissing, not hugging. Trying not to touch my face etc. Always wear my gloves. Wipe fomites etc.

I am having difficulty understanding if my concern is real or just my anxiety winding me up? Either way I'm terrified!

I think if you're terrified then maybe you need to consider that it is your anxiety getting out of control.

It sounds like you've made extensive preparations. A few masks before they sell out completely (enough for your own family - nobody will be having visitors if we had a big problem here), some hand sanitiser and enough food/drink for a few weeks in case you had to stay indoors for a while is as much as most people will do, even if they're prepping.

@kjhkj Thank you, I agree that my anxiety is a bit out of control today, I am trying to get a grip. Bit better now, due to mask aquisition, but still anxious af.
Regarding visitors... only issues will be my mum and dp's mum, both Welsh mams so hopefully they'll scare off any virus, they certainly scare me!
Thank you for calling them "extensive preparations" makes me feel better!

@wheresmymojo
love your posts... Thanks for the stats and links... I was terrified... now I'm really terrified. Though I love the Johns Hopkins site (perfect paranoia/prepping site!).

Amazed some posters don't think there's a risk, even more amazed they think that their view is important to this forum/thread.

I also watched Contagion last night... it seemed appropriate viewing! Tonight I'm watching the BBC 2002 Smallpox, its on youtube in 4 parts!

Goggles you want goggles!

I've been patching Pandemic on Netflix and it's a really odd coincidence. Watch it if you are interested there's some useful information.

Does anyone else worry if it hits UK then all hell will break loose?
I mean not everyone acts sensibly like staying in etc. Chinese people are more likely to follow advice and govt orders. I can't see over here everyone doing that.
I also think there will be more mob mentality and looting if it hits UK and if there is a lockdown over here.
There has been no mention of looting or rioting in China for food.

I definitely don't think we need to be terrified.

If you aren't elderly and don't have any serious illnesses or immune issues then it seems so far it would just be like a very horrible illness but one from which you would recover.

The good thing is that reports to date suggest children get milder symptoms (in keeping with SARS).

It will be the next month that will be telling. Experts are assuming we'll be able to keep good control of it in European countries so will be limited to the odd case but things may get to pandemic status if India and African countries get local epidemics. So all eyes on them really.

The reason being is that it's reasonably easy to control if the potential inflow is coming from just one country but not once it spreads further (think of them like little sparks trying to start a fire - a few little sparks from one direction can be found and extinguished but once you have many sparks from different directions you'll probably end up with a fire).

India & Africa are the places to watch because if they get cases of local H2H transmission then it will almost certainly get out of hand as they have the same overcrowded mega cities as China but without the authoritarian Govt and infrastructure to do the same scale of lockdown and treatment.

I didn't realise there was as much travel to/from China to India & Africa as there is - quite a lot apparently.

The other aspect is economic - a pandemic will bring out a global depression so there's that to think about too...

Not good for me as I am looking for a job from Monday in an already depressed job market in my area...

Yep, we've got voluntary isolation, that is not going to wash with schools in England who are obsessed with attendance. Nor employers who are often the same.

I hope those who are evacuated from China are quarantined on arrival.

While China was slow off the uptake with information, due to their system, now they are better equipped to enforce quarantine and lock down.

All countries will be slow to implement strategies to begin with as it is a big thing to restrict freedoms even if they are absolutely necessary. Only if things have gone really pear shaped in which case it may be too late.

I am reconning on staying in if possible. Fucking school is the issue. Complete utter bug factory. By the time it is clear they need to close, the two week incubation period would have still ensured that most people were exposed.

Anyway, that is all theoretical at present.
It is not known to be here yet.

I just hope that the government pay attention to what happens in China and at the first sign of trouble implement some strict strategies.

I still have some Brexit stash left a d was about to donate some of it to the food bank. I will hang on to it for the time being.

I work for the NHS in a non clinical position. I have a peripatetic role involving visits to GP surgeries and occasionally the local acute hospital. I am able to do some work from home. If the Corona virus takes hold here then I will be in a difficult position.

@Kakfor and there are some VERY strange things at play here
I'd like to know more about this too.
Am I right in thinking it's a man made virus originating from a lab in the area?
I'm wondering why it's not being reported on accurately given the severity of the reactions.
There's a part of me that wonders if it's something to do with organised population control given the climate crisis situation too.

Would China really inflict a virus on its own people though? Or do people think it's someone else starting off in China?

Most likely came from the wet market. It is unlikely to be inflicted on one's own country

It is unlikely to be inflicted on one's own country

Even accidentally? Who knows what the powers that be are working on with regards to weapons

Just FYI OP, it's JohnS Hopkins.

misses point of thread entirely

Looking like a possible case in Birmingham. Drs didn't follow protocol at all. They are told to lock patient in a room. The paramedics picked him up without hazmat suits too. THIS is what worries me. Total lack of quarantine.

Why don’t you just order from Ocado and get the driver to leave the stuff in your hallway where you can douse it with detol and leave it for a few hours before touching it?

My priority is vino. no kids, full freezer and all that.

Am also early retired thank god, so no worries about travelling.

Just need to stock up the cellar tomorrow. Just in case lol. Will order online.

Regina