When Pandemic Spreads To Your Neck Of The Woods…
One of the sites that I’m checking for 2019-ncov coronavirus updates is peakprosperity.com via Chris Martenson. His credentials qualify him in this area and he’s a sensible person. He happens to be into preparedness as well.
With that said, a few recent quotes as follows:
(if and when pandemic reaches his “neck of the woods”)
“I’m not going to be doing anything in the company of strangers. No shopping, no going to restaurants, and especially no traveling in closed up metal tubes with recirculated air (i.e. planes and trains).”
“I won’t be alone in those behaviors. How many airline pilots, train conductors, trash collectors, and medical personnel have to call in “sick” to disrupt the entire system? Not that many.”
If you’re on the fence, so to speak, here’s my advice (regarding if and when coronavirus gets to your neck of the woods).
First,
Coronavirus is much more dangerous than the standard flu.
The flu case fatality rate is approximately 0.1% while nCoV is AT LEAST (minimum) 3% — likely much higher (probable under-reporting of data from China, coupled with fatality rates not accounting for asymptomatic period up to 14 days).
R0 (transmittance) of the flu is evidently 1.28 while nCoV is apparently, currently, in the neighborhood of 4.08. That’s HIGHLY contagious, and it could be worse than that. We just don’t know everything yet.
The “Serious Complication rate” (ICU bed requirement) for the flu is less than 1% while nCoV is ~ 20% (and likely under-reported data from China).
Second,
It’s raging in China, while just simmering elsewhere
So far, this coronavirus has not ‘caught on fire’ elsewhere than China. However, as of this post, nCoV is now confirmed in 28 countries.
Because it has not yet flared up (as in China), people here in the US (and likely elsewhere) are not real concerned, or concerned at all. It’s barely simmering here with only 11 confirmed cases (in the US) at this time.
So, what’s the big deal? What’s all the hype?
Third,
When it happens, it will happen fast.
We know how contagious it is. So if it is not adequately contained, it’s going to spread fast. This has not been ‘on the radar’ long here in the US. And apparently this virus is asymptomatic for up to 14 days. So we’re going to find out pretty soon what’s going to happen.
Fortunately, major airlines have apparently stopped flights from China for the time being. Though it took awhile (one wonders how many have slipped through — again, we’ll know soon enough).
Here’s the thing… if this virus is going to hit us, it’s going to begin popping up to the extent that it will become self-evident. And when that happens, it’s going to be panic time.
LETS HOPE THIS IS CONTAINED. I’m not hitting the panic button.
However,
Make preparations now. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Whatever food, supplies, medications that you purchase now — will eventually be consumed. Even if this coronavirus is a dud here in the US.
But if you do not prepare, chances are that you will be putting your life at risk. Why? Because you will be going out to the grocery stores (for example) to buy food while the virus rages ‘in your neck of the woods’.
Like Martenson said above, if and when this virus hits my neck of the woods, we will NOT be going to the grocery store or anywhere near crowds of people, public places, or unnecessary exposure to others. Why risk it?
What could happen if it gets bad here?
If this gets anywhere near as bad as China, supply chains WILL break down. Just think of the scenarios. What are the chances that low paid checkout clerks are going to risk exposure at their places of work? When it gets bad, it will be self-evident. And people are going to stop going to work – especially if their job is high exposure to the population in general.
How many will get sick and therefore simply not be able to go to work? How many truckers who distribute our ‘life blood’ supplies across this nation? All aspects and segments will become affected. The ramifications will be a reduction in supplies and services. Think of all the sectors which may be affected.
If you don’t already have what you need, get it now…
Be ahead of the curve. There may just be a few weeks left before this thing becomes self-evident.
Again, right now there are only 11 confirmed cases in the US. That’s hardly anything to worry about by itself. But given what I’ve seen coming from China, “if” this virus flares up here, we’re going to be in big trouble. Seriously, have you seen some of the videos and reports that have escaped China censorship? (though YouTube has been taking some of this down). It is beyond bad…
Go to the grocery store. Buy food. Before it’s here.
How much food? Is one or two weeks worth enough? No. What about three or four weeks? Better, but not enough in my view. Three months of food? That sure feels better… It’s all about your own risk tolerance threshold.
Getting your food now, is probably the best thing you can do right now. Eliminating the need to go out to the grocery store when this coronavirus is raging around you — is huge.
What else?
A significant portion of the population may get this virus. Buy the medications that may help deal with symptoms – before they’re gone. You know what they are. The same you would buy for the flu. Except this one’s worse.
For those who “go to church” (wherever that may be) every week, are you still going to go if coronavirus gets in your neck of the woods? Lots of the US population goes to church. Doesn’t sound like a real good idea to me… Is that ‘bad’? (I don’t think so, but that’s just me).
At what point will people choose not to go to their work? Probably when it becomes self-evident that it’s here and now.
I’ve posted about this situation a number of times already. I don’t mean to be repeating myself or over-dramatizing this. However a deadly pandemic is high on the list of “oh shit” SHTF. And we’re a preparedness website. So I feel it necessary to keep focus on this rapidly developing situation.
Right now it is seemingly okay out there in the US. But it “could” flare up fast. We’re going to know soon enough. So until then, be prepared…
