Prepping for a pandemic 2

[wheresmymojo]

Second thread on prepping for a potential Coronavirus pandemic...following the latest news and information as well as prepping info.

When quoting estimates like mortality rates, replication rates, incubation periods and similar I try to stick to evidence based, scientific studies and will link to sources (unless already linked to them previously).

Generally speaking I use reputable sources of information like well regarded news outlets for other information and will provide links.

Sometimes I may post things outside of this as 'interesting' or such like. I will always caveat these as to be taken with caution.

As much as possible I am attempting not to link to fake news. It's an evolving picture so may not be 100% successful but if something is later shown to be incorrect I will post a correction.

I see Shenzhen is on lockdown now.

What worries me if that were necessary here is that many just wouldn't comply. I see defiance ever day as a teacher - it's a commonplace mentality. That and 'it's just a cold, get in to work'. Makes me nervous.

unfortunately some studies have shown that masks don’t protect against aerosol transmission, as aerosols float around in the air for much longer than droplets. Therefore, any infected person will be leaving infection in the air and on surfaces, even after they leave an area. The possibility that Coranvirus is airborne makes the risk of catching the infection much greater, than previously thought and explains the high contagion rate.

Thanks op. So sad so many of the health workers have died of exhaustion.

The people on the ship. 3700 of them and they restart the clock everytime a new case is discovered 🙀 they will be there forever. It would drive you stir crazy being in a cabin that size for that long.

News reports yesterday interviewed a British couple onboard. They have each been given individual digital thermometers and they are having to report a reading every 4 hours so hopefully if everyone is compliant they should catch them sooner rather than later.

Where's the info. about Shenzhen @GorkyMcPorky?
They were due to go back to work on Monday.
Dh's head office is there.

That worries me a lot also Gorky. The attitude that "I know what's best for me and my family. I won't be told where I can go"

On Monday I'll be buying some extra dried goods and tins of soup to get a small stash going.

I agree Gorky. Kids are sent in ill to my son's school all the time, even though they know my son is immunosuppressed. Only on Thursday I heard a mum talking to her crying child in the playground saying "I know you feel poorly but I've spoken to the teacher and they will ring me if you feel any worse".
I just don't trust the behaviour of others.

ofwarren a surgical or basic dust mask is no use. An N95 mask could protect you but only if worn correctly which most folk won't. It's easy to leave gaps round the edge or to take it off wrong.

Although there is now some evidence that the virus is airborne, this will mainly be an issue in confined spaces (like my daily commute!). The particles are heavier than air and so will drop onto surfaces fairly quickly. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and avoiding touching your face, especially your eyes is still the most useful advice.

re Shenzhen - unreliable, but it's widely report on Twitter. I have to say that Twitter is proving to be quite informative if you're selective. It may, of course, not be true.

Masks - PR exercise I suppose. If you're not allowed out without one, I guess any will do.

www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/health/coronavirus-patients.html#click=t.co/beEavU669A this article is explaining how people are spreading the virus as the presentation is atypical.
"About 10 percent of the patients did not initially have the usual symptoms, cough and fever, but instead had diarrhea and nausea first. Other uncommon symptoms included headache, dizziness and abdominal pain."

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7981047/amp/Another-Briton-falls-ill-coronavirus-French-health-minister-says.html?__twitter_impression=true 5 new cases in France. Breaking news is that they are all British

A family who had contact with the infected Brits in France are all in hospital in Majorca with suspected infection.

Dd is about to go to France for a school trip. Good hand washing is the best advice.

I suspect it's actually everywhere already but we won't see the effects for a few weeks.

@ofwarren

Yes, they said they don't feel it's a good use of resources to test everyone.

TBH people can test negative two or three times in the early few days so it would use a lot of tests and people...

Getting DD to wash hands, easy. Getting Ds towash hands is a different matter.

Oh don't say that HasaDig my anxiety is already through the roof! Normal flu season is bad enough for my son and adding this to the mix makes me want to never leave the house!

Personally in regards to the cruise ship I think they should make plans to repatriate them and put them in quarantine in their home countries now.

If some people are alone because of line travellers or because their partner has already been quarantined they are effectively in the equivalent of a prison cell in 24/7 isolation. Not sure that's psychologically healthy if it goes on for weeks or months...

@GorkyMcPorky
I imagine in a similar scenario the army would be involved in a lock down to prevent the attitudes you highlighted in your post.

Isn’t it time to stop arrivals from China, Hong Kong and Singapore or has the horse completely bolted?

I agree @HasaDigaEebowai, although I said that a fortnight ago and there hasn't been a flood of cases yet. Matter of time I guess but the longer it's held off I guess the longer countries have to prepare.

Why a few weeks ago was everybody on the news wearing goggles, and now nobody seems to be bothering with goggles?

I would say it's bolted. That and we are now the puppet of China and the US.

I agree Hasa, it’s likely everywhere we just don’t know it yet.

Those poor cruise ship passengers. Having a balcony cabin or suite wouldn’t be as bad but being stuck in an inside cabin with no natural light must be torturous. They can’t keep them indefinitely surely.

But the various cruiseliners (aren't there about 8 affected now in various places around the world?) are actually ideal to contain people. The rooms are really not anything like prison cells. They are comfortable rooms with facilities to make drinks, shower, toilet, sinks (which are very easy to clean) tv with multiple channels plus onboard information channels which are ideal for disseminating information about what is going on. If you're going to have to isolate a couple of thousand people its the ideal place. Particularly since we may well need any other facilities we have if they keep bringing people back from china.

I personally think its time to stop travel to china.