Prepping For A Pandemic ....9

[ItsNotJustTheFuckingFlu]

wheresmojo asked at the end of thread eight if other posters could keep an eye on threads filling up and start new ones if possible as she’s busy this week and may not have the time, saw thread 8 getting full so thought would start number 9 before going to bed. Thank you to ofwarren for the live updates too. I’ve copied and pasted the info that wheresmymojo has included in every thread, hopefully formatting doesn’t mess up.

Anxiety

As Preppers we tend to look at a reasonable worst case scenario to plan for. Everyone is welcome on the thread but if you find it makes you anxious be kind to yourself and think about sticking to once daily updates from the BBC or similar thanks

General COVID Info

The estimated replication rate is R= 2 to 4 based on latest expert estimates. This means each infected person spreads the virus to between 2 and 4 people. Experts estimate that, unchecked, it could infect 60% of the population.

Around 15-20% of cases are thought to be severe - that is resulting in the need for hospitalisation. Around 3-5% requiring ventilation.

The estimated mortality rate is around 1-2% at the moment (compared to 0.01-0.1% for flu). This may change as it is very difficult to estimate mortality.

Children tend to have milder symptoms. Those over 60 with underlying health issues and a history of smoking are more likely to be severe (although not exclusively this type of person).

Spread of COVID

It is estimated that the average incubation period is 3-5 days but can be as long as 24 days.

It can be spread with no symptoms.

It can be spread via droplet (cough/sneeze), aerosol (breathing same air in very close quarters), bodily fluids, fecal/oral route and formites (via surfaces, up to 28 days in the right circumstances but up to 3-5 days in more typical circumstances).

Updates

As this is a novel virus and knowledge is constantly being updated - I will post updates as they become available with links to source.

I am not a medical expert so any opinions or conjecture of my own should be taken with a pinch of salt!

Prepping Scenarios

Most of us are prepping for the following situations:

• Wanting to stay indoors for 2-4 weeks + in case of a local outbreak / schools being closed

• Potentially being ill with a flu type illness lasting 2-3 weeks with one or more of the household having the illness

• Having to take a family member to hospital for COVID or any other reason during an outbreak

Prepping Items

Threads 1&2 have lists of things to think about to prep for the first scenario as do the Brexit prepping threads.

Main differences/additions to something like the Brexit list are:

• Face masks if you can get them for any trips you have to make in public during an outbreak. These don't offer full protection and cannot be 100% relied upon but are probably better than nothing if you make sure you wear them correctly and dispose of them correctly. N95 masks are best but expensive and harder to wear, surgical face masks are second best. Dust masks are not going to help.

• Hand sanitiser needs to be 60% or more alcohol content

• Dettol / bleach / Miltons to disinfect. Not all disinfectants work but these three do

• Plenty of at home/over counter treatments for flu type symptoms should you need to treat at home

• Tissues (lots of) should you catch the virus

• Think about meals that are easy to cook and eat should you be ill or both parents be ill at the same time (soup for example)

• For a potential hospital trip you may want to prep a 'go bag' should you need to take someone to hospital with the virus (or anything else) during an outbreak. See Thread 1&2 for examples of what people are packing

• Frequent and thorough hand washing, not touching your face and social distancing (no handshakes, hugs, etc) are some of the most effective ways to stay virus free

Other Thoughts

India have announced that they are stopping exports of some antibiotics, hormone treatments and vitamin supplements as they rely on China for raw materials.

Many factories that supplied fibre for use in sanitary towels and tampons are being diverted to manufacture face masks. Consider stocking up or changing to sustainable items (cloth STs, mooncup, period pants)

If you bulk buy hand gel with a high alcohol content make sure it is stored somewhere safe other than the one you’re using. It is flammable!

This has been circulating on WhatsApp, I know we know most of this already however I will post anyway in case of any new comers on the thread.
Good morning all, I am sure everyone has been getting all kinds of forwards re the Coronavirus, however I received this one and personally think it makes more sense to me, that’s just my personal opinion so I am sharing

The author is James Robb, MD UC San Diego

Subject: What I am doing for the upcoming COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic

Dear Colleagues, as some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.

The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the US by mid to late March and April.

Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.:

1. NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

2. Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

3. Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

4. Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

5. Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.

6. Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.

7. If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:

1. Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.

   Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average - everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth. 
   

2. Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.

3. Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.

4. Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.

I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it. Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved. BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.

I hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic pandemic. You are welcome to share this email. Good luck to all of us! Jim

James Robb, MD FCAP

Been thinking, maybe it's better to contract it now, while the NHS still has capacity to treat people

Except that the jury is still out about whether you can catch it more than once, isn't it?

What I can't understand is, thanks to modern technology, preppers & a like amongst us have known since early January that this virus had the potential to become a pandemic.

I have been sending my kids into school & DH into work with an alcohol based handsanitizer & sending them regular texts throughout the day to remind them to wash their hands for the last 3/4 weeks now. As a SAHM I have not been making any unnecessary trips outside the house for the last couple of weeks.

If we are to believe that the government know far more than us & have the health of the nation in its best interests, then why wasn't schools & work environments sent the information & procedures to implement the measures that I (we) introduced a month ago?

Why has Matt Hancock just been on national tv telling folks that hand shaking & washing with cold water is FIIIINNNNEEE? Only to be contradicted an hr later by a dr? who says that is probably not the case once everyone has already left for work & school?

Hadn’t heard of the zinc lozenges. Anyone know a U.K. equivalent?

I have lost all faith in this gov. They are handling this terribly and now people are going to die. This could have been contained very early on with drastic measures but the Gov didnt want to harm the economy, well its going to be wrecked now isnt it? Idiots the lot of them

@MoonlightMistletoe the only thing that stops mine drying out is body shop body butter coca. I have extra in😂

Re: Air borne, someone posted about watching his smokers breath out visibly, it’s really freaked me out!! Smokers exhale and blow, but, still....

Exactly @WitchDoc we were talking about the situation in china and what it means for the UK on here 4 weeks ago!!

The incompetence makes me so angry.

My DH & kids already think I'm overreacting & the likes of Matt Hancock is not helping my case.

Does anyone know if any flights are being cancelled between NI and the UK? My lad is due home in a week and even he, who used to mock my prepping and concern regarding the virus, is getting worried. Mind you, he’s more pissed at the thought of having s marathons cancelled. 😁

Even Yahoo has an article on what to Bulk buy on Amazon, and it's all bloody crisps and teabags.

I got locked out of my Tesco account too I got back in by resetting password. Plenty of delivery slots even for tomorrow.

Ukraine confirms first case of coronavirus t.co/eUoE2b20hL

I have been using hand gel when it and about for two weeks. Washing my hands at home as soon as I get in, washing hands after the loo and cleaning jobs etc. I also have a terrible cold coughing up junk. So I agree that bugs are still being caught from my kids ( daughter was oozing snot last week).

Advice from government is so lacking. Someone dh works with is under isolation at work awaiting test results ( not 100% sure they was tested, work was wooley on that) after returning from Italy skiing. However it's a teacher and they was with countless school kids who are at school.

I think it will be widespread by the end of the month. I must get my travel insurance tonight!

Are we all seeing these videos on bbc news channel 2 ?

What are the videos?
Kids are watching Cbeebies

They've been arrested @TipseyTorvey and have disappeared.

@MoonlightMistletoe - I didn’t know That about zinc lozenges, thanks for posting

Burials , people in body bags , stating that the numbers don't make sense. In areas like Hong Kong.

@WitchDoc politicians have different agendas to healthcare providers.

Our safety is less of a concern as managing us is ~ plus incompetence and if I’m being really kind... they aren’t doctors

Just rewinding to make sure I get it right.

BBC Persian have recovered this video (people in protective suits carrying a body bag putting in in the ground) the man who filmed this said these burials in a cemetery in pong and 80 people have been buried in that specific area which is in excess than the official numbers.

Another video like we've been seeing on twitter before of people in suits picking up a body and putting it in the back of an ambulance from the side of the road.

(Sorry if I've not got the name of the place correct Pong ? Or kong I couldn't hear properly two toddlers being toddlers in my ear haha)

@echobench here in U.K. you can get vitamin c and zinc fizzy tablets that you dissolve in water and drink. You can also get zinc tablets in health food shops. Hope that helps.

I'll be popping in to town (Cardiff) on my lunch break in my search for hand santiser. I'm not trying to be greedy - just want a couple of bottles! But left it far too late
Apart from boots and superdrug can anyone think of anywhere to try? Pretty sure primark usually have the small bottles by their tills, can anyone think of anywhere else that does this?
Must say I'm not holding my breath on being successful!

@echobench you can get zinc lozenges in Holland and Barrett or Amazon.

Independent pharmacies might have hand gel

Concerns about government action where cases are confirmed in education settings...

skwawkbox.org/2020/03/02/wimbledon-school-closes-as-inadequate-response-to-covid-19-continues/

Gibraltar reports first case of coronavirus t.co/eUoE2b20hL