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!

Also shock at Iran. 523!!

There was a video of worshipers licking a religious object there, it was in the Mail, so il take it with a pinch of salt, but it might explain the spread.

I sat on my hands with a similar comment Hasa but it's the preppers board not Aibu, best to power on.

Anyone deregistering their child, just be aware that if your in a oversubscribed school then you might lose your place so look into it carefully. Once your child is no longer on roll, the school looses your child’s funding so they will ring round to anyone on a waiting list and fill the seat. So just ask the questions first.

It could easily blow up to be the next - should we ask the military to help? debacle. 😁

Got a Sainsburys delivery coming today. No hand gel was in stock.
Received an email from them this morning saying they now can't send my orders of Dettol, plain flour, pasta sauce and quinoa.

@AlohaMolly

Saw that posted on another forum. I didn't say anything.

That's true Skye
We are lucky there are only 25 in my son's class and the head says she will ring if they start getting near capacity.

Having actually been to Iran, it is very common to touch and kiss the shrines- not actually lick though!

The Blarney Stone is kissed. The popes hand.

It’s not uncommon in many cultures

No one says it is uncommon.

But it will contribute to the spread.

Received an email from them this morning saying they now can't send my orders of Dettol, plain flour, pasta sauce and quinoa.

My groceries just came: also no Dettol, and not the hand cream I ordered. Neither was substituted which is odd.

There were no multipacks of own brand fruit juice but they substituted for 12 cartons of other brands, and only a smaller amount of the tinned veg was available, though they topped this up with another brand.

I am familiar with the law around attendance due to being the parent of a school refuser who has SEN and anxiety.

Another option would be to ring your children in sick and be honest about why.
Unless attendance is already being monitored it would take a few weeks of absence to trigger any intervention. (By monitored I mean with ewo intervention not just a generic we are monitoring your child attendance as it is below 97% letter)
That would buy you a few weeks to assess the situation and de-reg only as a last resort if you are given warning of procescution.

Those will children or immediate family members who are high risk contact your g.p and ask if they will write a letter supporting the absence. You may need to pay for this as g.ps are not supposed to write fitnotes for children.

I am hoping the government will relax the laws around attendance under the circumstances. The current push for attendance at all costs is dangerous.

First day back from half term. DC home for lunch. They've had a lesson about "The Virus" and how to wash their hands properly. How to sneeze and cough and not to come into school if they're not fleeting well. They aren't allowed to shake hands with their teacher any more, so they are bowing to each other instead. "But we'll be alright mummy. You might die though. Daddy's alright because he's at work so can't catch it"

DS is upset as some kids were laughing at him in break and saying he has the virus ( he has SN)

NEW: Public Health England says widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is "highly likely" -PA

Like we wasn't aware of this already 🙄

@FourTeaFallOut I was just wondering how old your children are and what sort of things you bought for them to make themselves?
Thanks!

@Puppycorn as others have said, if the school is popular the place may be filled and you may not be able to send your DC to the same school afterwards so don't assume they can go back to the same school.

Regarding the law around home education, many many people are woefully ignorant and think you need to be a teacher, or that it's illegal etc and none of that is true at all. I was home ed myself and so I have heard it all a million times
It is perfectly legal at any age - primary or secondary. The law says you have to educate your child. How and where you do this lies in the hands of the parent.

We don't tend to use online schools, we do follow the national curriculum but you don't even have to do that if you don't want to, as long as you can prove you are providing an adequate education if asked. We use a mix of resources online, physical workbooks, home ed social groups, one off workshops, educational visits, weekly classes and clubs etc. Although I am wondering at the moment what to do about my child's gymnastics and swimming lessons and when I would knock them on the head.

Online schooling resources obviously depend on the age of your child. NEC (National Extension College) are pretty good although pricey for GCSEs, I studied with them many moons ago and was very happy with them. But for younger kids not approaching GCSE age there are loads of online resources, many of them free. I am happy to list some in a separate post if people would like, or start an education thread in this topic.

Public Health England have said there is a confirmed case of #COVID19 in south London, after a member of staff at Wimbledon College became infected in Italy.

Get the latest on #coronavirus here: t.co/MGXL4XftF8 t.co/P3k17jKh07

amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/coronavirus-expect-widespread-infection-in-uk-fairly-soon-warns-health-official?__twitter_impression=true

Coronavirus: expect widespread infection in UK ‘fairly soon’, warns health official

I was just wondering how old your children are and what sort of things you bought for them to make themselves?
Mine are 7 & 10. I bought some packet soups and packets of pasta and dried sauce. You boil 1L, tip the packet in and cook for 10mins occasionally stirring. Both managed to cook those with minimal supervision when I was ill, just out of hospital and not able to do much.

Scrambled eggs is also an easy one.
Jacket potatoes too.
We ate uncooked veg on the side!

"But we'll be alright mummy. You might die though. Daddy's alright because he's at work so can't catch it"

My son has SEN, I’m not looking forward to that conversation, however my son has only been verbal for a few years so his musings are pretty basic level. I was ok at first when he suggested I dig my dad up and take him to Dr to make him better. It was ok at first, but after a few days I wanted to cry. Have to laugh or we will go insane....

Jacket potatoes with cottage cheese is ultra easy in microwave

EU Crisis Management Commissioner on coronavirus: "While we should not give in to panic, the situation is likely to still get worse so we need to be prepared and time is of essence"

I was just wondering how old your children are and what sort of things you bought for them to make themselves?

My kids are 12, 10 & 6. My 12 year old is pretty capable but I don't want him to be rustling up bolognese for the others when things might be stressful or if the littlest is complaining of being hungry so I've got stuff that can just go in the oven but also snap pot microwave beans, microwave pasta and rice (so there's no dealing with boiling water). I've got stuff the 6yo can get into easily without help, custard pots, fruit pots, jelly pots, crisps.

It's not the most nutritious but it would be just be to get us over the hump for a day or two if we end up stuck in bed. (I'm working on the assumption that if we've got it it's probably because they have already had it)

But if you are really ill sandwiches, cereal, fruit and biscuits will get you all through it.