Newsweek: How to Prepare for the Coronavirus: What to Buy Now in Case a Pandemic Is Declared, According to a Virologist
As the deadly new coronavirus continues to spread around the world, a scientist has released a list of items to collect in case COVID-19 is declared a pandemic—but stressed that people should not panic buy or hoard.
Virologist Ian Mackay, adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, Australia, wrote in a blog post that, as COVID-19 isn't widespread in most parts of the world, "now is a great time to make a list, label up a 'Pandemic Stash' box, and begin to slowly fill it with items that won't go off and that you won't touch unless needed."
Writing on his Virology Down Under website Tuesday, Mackay said if more cases appear and can't be traced back to known chains of transmission then "the efforts in some countries to contain COVID-19 will have failed."
"At some point, we'll be in the main phase of a pandemic," he said, emphasizing that "a pandemic doesn't necessarily mean the disease is severe" but rather denotes a pathogen that has spread widely within two or more countries other than the first one to report it.
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WNU Editor: I have taken measures to have enough to take care of 4 people for 6 weeks in my chalet. At my home in Montreal I have enough to last a month (for four people). I will also be buying some extra stuff in the next week or two .... like a few cases of beer, duct tape, batteries, fill up my second propane tank for my barbecue, keep the gas tank in my car always full, etc.. For security I have a 20 gauge Browning, and I bought extra shells last week. I am also telling everyone I know to keep a good amount of cash in hand but in low denominations.
Are we on the verge of a pandemic? My gut says yes, and I think it is going to be announced in March. But I do not think it will be as severe as the doomsayers are saying. My main concern will be hoarding, a shortage of certain goods, and price inflation on the essentials. Because most people will be staying in their homes, I can see boredom and restlessness becoming a huge issue for many homes.
On an interesting side note. I operate a free library online that has been active for the past 20 years (click here for Bookyards.com). My traffic from China has increased 20x in the past month.
4 comments:
"For security I have a 20 gauge Browning, and I bought extra shells last week"
I hope that is disinformation/maskirovka. At least get yourself a 22 and I hope you 20 gauge is semiautomatic with at least 5 shots. I mean you could go smaller and get a 28 gauge. What are you doing out there with a 20 gauge anyway? Hunting ducks, gees and grouse? Although a 20 gauge might be just fine, if you handle it better than something else.
You best bet is to have good neighbors to act as LP or OPs and to back them up. Real survivalist have upgraded to communities.
Never underestimate anyone including babushkas. During a Russian offensive in WW2. A unit/spearhead had to cross a river, which it goes without saying is dangerous endeavor. While considering how to cross the river at a ford, the Russians were collecting humint. One of the people questioned was a babushka. She had observed that the Germans crossed the ford with headlights on at night and told the commander as much. The Russians proceeded with headlights on and surprised the Germans with their swift advance.
If you identify a place you might need to go to in an emergency (hospital, etc) always know 2 ways to get there and drive them at least once. Familiarity is your friend.
Mr WNUs, thanks for your heads up regarding what you’re doing.
I too have back up plans (I live in New Zealand).
In fact, I have three plans.
1. Stay where I am and lock the doors (I live in Auckland).
2. I have a holiday home with access limited to one road (it’s more of a settlement than a town). Last weekend I got together with some of the locals to discuss what we might do if it all turns to crap. One plan is to block the only road in and live there for a month. Luckily we are in a very fertile part of NZ where anything can grow, we have natural spring water, thermal springs for hot water, plenty of fishing as we’re next to the harbour, and up the hill is a National Forest which is great for hunting.
3. My last option is to travel to a remote place in the bottom of the South Island, where a self-sufficient community has been set up complete with all the latest mod-cons - my family is luckily on the list of approved people. The idea is that we blow the bridge (no kidding!) and survive there. It’s next to a lake and mountains - just a tad bit chilly.
As you might imagine these are extreme measures, but I am not confident about NZ’s efforts to stop people entering the country (socialist government - too afraid to cause insult).
This weekend is dedicated to getting water and other essentials.
I think the worst thing about being in NZ is the fact that winter is coming. In the south of the country, autumn hits relatively early - the first frosts hitting late April. The only upside is that by then the tourist season is well over.
Don't forget the toilet paper!
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