For context/a look ahead at what we may be in store for:
Pretty hard to argue with much of the data/reasoning. Scary.
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Toilet paper is a first world luxury. Maybe not so much for other parts of the world.
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The wife works for the health department in a major US city usually in an office but this week they’re at a city facility inspecting the teeth of up to a thousand kids. Genius. At least she is on kid/crowd control.
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Thank you for posting. Sobering stuff.
And here’s a good read on the vital importance of washing one’s hands—properly, and with soap—to help stop the virus.
Simple measures like staying home and careful hygiene seem to be what we as individuals can do, so that’s gonna be my playbook.
Today’s also the day when I attempt to convince my wonderful 80 year old neighbor that either her son or I could do her grocery shopping. Wish me luck.
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And beer. People always stock up on beer.
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Agreed.
Here in the UK, we’re expecting the government to make a major announcement later today. It is bound to be a move to “social distancing”.
On a personal level, I’ve felt very unwell for 4 weeks now. This is not the virus but a flare-up of my COPD, with a bad chest infection. It’s left me constantly coughing in spite of using my “emergency pack” of antibiotics and a short course of steroids prescribed by the doctor. The effort of coughing is tiring me out and I’ve had no enegy to want to go out of the house. Yesterday, I had a visit from a nurse from the Community Respiratory Team who did confirm that the chest infection appears to have cleared but the cough may linger for quite a while (maybe another couple of weeks or so).
So, to get back to coronavirus. I’m happy to continue with what is, in effect, self isolation. I am already compromised by the COPD and even more compromised by the chest infection and I really am nervous about being in public - the effects of catching the virus while I’m like this may well be very serious. I’m also wary about being out in public, while I have the cough. I may well know it’s not the virus but no-one else would know that and there is the possibility that some fuckwit would, erm, take exception to my presence.
So, the house is well stocked with food. I’ve just done an Amazon order for half a dozen trashy crime novels. And when Mrs H does a supermarket run tomorrow, she’ll add in some things that we don’t usually stock - like tins of fruit (or frozen) - but no need for panic food buying.
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Sounds like you’re taking good care of yourself. Hope you continue to feel better.
Not universally. Wine, perhaps. i figure that if we run through the “house stuff” we can always get into the “good stuff”.
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Not quite your demographic, but a dear neighbor has emailed us a very stern message that she will shop and run all errands for us, none too large or small. She advises us to essentially shelter in place.
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Sorry to hear that you’re still not feeling well, but very glad to hear you’re taking care of yourself. My best to you and the Mrs.
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Don’t forget a few dozen rolls of toilet paper!!! God Bless and get better soon Harters.
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Well, you’ve made me a fan of your kind neighbor and I don’t even know her. 
Gotta take care of each other, I agree.
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I just read this and it’s fairly true, not trying to diminish the threat of the corona virus but I do think this speaks a lot about our priorities.
In the United States there have been 38 (as of March 12) deaths caused by coronavirus with fear and panic setting in across the country.
In the United States each year there are over 600,000 deaths attributed to heart disease. What do we do? Put fried chicken between two glazed donuts.
Sad but true!
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There have been over 40,000 traffic deaths each of the last three years but people still drive like fools with no laws that seemingly apply to them. Nobody appears to care.
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Successful conversation with my neighbor. We easily agreed that me shopping for her is a good idea right now—she wasn’t taken aback in the slightest. She’s one of the strongest people I have known and I want to keep it that way.
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Good job @tomatotomato regarding your older neighbor. Our elders can be extremely stubborn at times, maybe one of the reasons they are strong and survive at their ages. I was surprised my dad finally listened to me (along with all the advisories on the news as they unfold), and is avoiding church. I’ve been harping on him every flu season for years now, to just lay low in peak times. The last bad cold virus he got nearly killed him!! I’ll let you guess about which family member travels to care for him…one of my two brothers, or myself???
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While in Wegman’s/NJ I noted a large sign at every register that paper goods, hand wipes and water was being restricted to one item each per shopping order.
Lines out the door at Costco this morning.
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We attempted to gas up at Costco about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. The lines reminded me of the gas shortages in the 70’s. The parking lot was packed as well. H needs to go, and pick up a few things, but perhaps in the last half hour before they close. Will report what is relayed to me.
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I headed to 3 other stores instead.
I think it’s regional. I’m more a wine drinker myself. My observation from when I lived in Virginia where wine and beer are available in grocery stores is that milk, eggs, toilet paper, and beer flew out the door in the face of big weather. Here in {insert inappropriate political pejorative not suitable for HO} Maryland where you can’t get any alcohol except in a liquor store the big sellers seem to be hard liquor followed by beer with wine behind. The two stores I use are next to a West Marine and a UPS store so I get plenty of opportunities to watch the stream of people returning to the parking lot. Your area’s demographics may have different preferences.
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