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?

Perhaps China should do an Eyam, with the rest of the world sending support.

I'm guessing that the Australians might send them to the Asylum seeker detention centre on Christmas Island?

I read yesterday they are advising against using latex gloves as apparently it makes people less likely to wash their hands lots, which is considered one of the most effective preventive measures for now

I'm sure that's true but if you're already the sort of person who takes precautions then its an added layer of protection (and costs £4 for a box of 100 so its one worth having in the cupboard just in case)

I'm guessing that the Australians might send them to the Asylum seeker detention centre on Christmas Island?

Yes that's where they are going - along with those from New Zealand.

I'm sure that's true but if you're already the sort of person who takes precautions then its an added layer of protection

No! It’s not an added layer of protection! The WHO and the CDC (who know about these things) say it categorically is not, and is more likely to lull people into a false sense of security and make them less likely to wash their hands frequently and effectively, hence why they recommend not wearing them as being a better approach to containing this virus.

Re the gloves, I'm the sort of person who already carries antibac hand gel around in her handbag and washes her hands frequently. For me it is added protection which I would only use if really needed in which case I'd rarely be going out and when I did I'd be on high alert anyway about hand washing and not touching faces.

Clearly you don't want Joe Bloggs who thinks its all a load of nonsense saying "well I'm fine I've got a pair of gloves, I don't need to do anything else."

Antibacterial anything...hw does that protect against a viral infection?

In terms of masks, what is the best thing to buy that's affordable? I bought 100 surgery face masks last night from a medical site, but are these but going to do anything at at?

I'm 15 weeks pregnant and starting to get quite worried about this. I'm new to prepping - anyone have any tips as to how I can better protect myself and the baby if the virus does come here? My family are currently on holiday in New York and are due back next week so I'm worrying about that too as the US has some confirmed cases.

Antibacterial anything...how does that protect against a viral infection?

Well if you mean the antibac hand gel, it's a way of washing your hands when you're out and about and don't have access to soap and water. This particular virus can be spread by surface contact (particularly skin to skin).

Stocked up on flu medication, food and toiletries. Off to purchase FFP3 masks today and enough nappies just in case. I don't think it's going to happen but I feel much better now.

When would you start wearing a mask out and about ? Once the first case us reported in the UK ? After the first 15, 150, 1500 cases ..? We live quite rurally, but within commuting distance to London.

But all an antibactrerial rub will do is move the virus around your hands?

Antibacterial hand gel doesn't kill viruses. It gives a false sense of security, so people are less likely to wash their hands, and more likely to spread a virus on. Take bottle of water, soap and paper towels rather than hand gel.

So given that most people are not going to stop in the street every time they touch any surface and whip out a bottle of water, soap and a towel, we are back to gloves being added protection

@NewHorizons2020 I honestly don't know. I'm in a similar situation to you - semi-rural but lots of commuters in and out of London.

I think wearing a mask would be more situation dependent for me.

The virus spreads via large droplets (sneezes, coughs) rather than just breath IYSWIM. So I wouldn't bother wearing a mask to walk around my village as I could easily keep distance from anyone coughing / sneezing.

But if it started to have H2H spread in London then I'd wear one if I was getting a train into London. If it started looking like it was a big enough local epidemic that I think carriers could be around this area I would wear one to the supermarket.

Masks are only partial protection, not full. But it would remind me not to touch my face and stop any larger droplets so personally I think worth wearing.

I honestly don't know what I mean when I say "if the local epidemic gets big enough" though. I guess I might rely on the news/Govt telling us to wear masks if we can.

I have to say it does remind me how many conspiracy loons there are out there though - on Twitter at the moment - Bill Gates has purposefully made this virus to reduce the world population by 10% for climate change purposes

Masks info from HK infectious disease doctors...

I'm guessing that the Australians might send them to the Asylum seeker detention centre on Christmas Island?

Yes that's where they are going - along with those from New Zealand.

Well that could be quite an eyeopener for them...

Craziest news of the day is once UK citizens are repatriated they are not being provided with transport back to home to self-isolate (from Sky News).

They've been told to make their own way home(!)

Madness.

The virus spreads via large droplets (sneezes, coughs) rather than just breath IYSWIM

OP do the scientists know that for sure?

FFS Mojo. How stupid can our country be?! I'd assumed that either they would be taken somewhere to be isolated or taken to their homes to self isolate.

@wheresmymojo that's crazy ?!? Thanks for your thoughts re mask, I think I'll be doing the same as you.

Wheresmymojo

Is this frim the same number-crunching risk-assessors that gave us the Smart Motorway?

frim? I meant from of course. I'm getting over excited despite my best intentions!