Edit by moderator to add: I have merged the posts in the COVD-19 thread into this thread that deal with the economic issues, so that the other thread can deal with any medical issues from the virus, and this one can deal with the government restrictions and other non-medical effects of the situation. Talk about whip up hysteria, these tabloids have caused this..... a woman has filled her basement with food, and another customer has bought a YEAR's worth of supplies... Supermarket shelves are starting to be stripped bare as Americans prepare for the spread of coronavirus by stockpiling on medications and non-perishable items across the country. People have been panic buying items from stores ever since health authorities warned that Americans should start preparing for domestic acceleration of the virus, which has infected more than 80,000 people worldwide and killed nearly 3,000. There are now 60 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and the first case where the origin of the disease is unknown was confirmed on Wednesday. Supplies have been flying off the shelves countrywide this week with people posting photos on social media showing the lack of products available in some stores and pharmacies. In southern California, some Walgreens stores had been completely depleted of cough medicines, cold and flue medications, vaporizers, masks and thermometers. Shoppers in Hawaii were buying up flatbeds of canned goods, bottled water, toilet paper and paper towels from a local Costo. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-shelves-stripped-bare-coronavirus-panic.html
I haven't seen or heard any panic-buying in this area. I hope people will remain calm and not get crazy. (Fat chance.)
Well, I'm sending out to the grocery story store today and getting my normal grocery list plus a two week supply, especilly a two week supply of peanut butter and cookies. I want to be prepared
The latest press guess is that our British government may be disbanded during the virus's critical period. I assume they will communicate by video conferencing from home. If this happens why not keep them there and sell off the Houses of Parliament to save the billions it's going to cost in its renovation, plus it will reduce their chauffeur driven carbon footprint.
I told my son to watch that stock market closely and begin buying as it hits the lows. Make hay while the sun shines.
One of the truck drivers who picks up/delivers things to the docks (in California ?) posted a video (on Facebook) from his semi, and he was showing that where those large shipping crates are usually piled up several stacks high, the whole area only has a few shipping crates, and most of those are empty ones, he said. Some people are saying that because of the stock market drop, and the shipping shortage, we could see empty shelves on stores here in the United States, even without an epidemic of cvd-19 here, just because the ports are closing down from lack of shipping coming from China. Hopefully, this is just part of the panic that seems to be being encouraged by the media, but even so, it probably does not hurt to have a little extra food just in case we do experience temporary shortages. Another thing that they are saying , is to keep some money, in case the banks have to close for some reason. I remember when we had the tornadoes here, all the banks were closed for days (and no computers running), so even if there was a store open, you had to have cash to buy anything there.
I have always been a stockpiler; after raising 5 kids it just became second nature to buy stuff in bulk. I feel confident that I have enough food between my freezer and pantry to last the 2 of us a couple of months. (Except for fresh produce and dairy.) I just got my Amazon "subscribe and save" order that includes a couple of cases of coffee and a case of toilet paper, but that is my typical monthly order. I agree that people who don't have a couple of weeks' worth of food should probably take steps to get it, just in case of an order to shelter in place. I still don't understand people buying cases of bottled water; I don't expect our public water supply to suddenly be cut off.
It's like waiting for Armageddon and for once class and privilege has no advantage.In fact they have to mix more. Having uttered that smug statement it is frightening, It is the first time I have seen greater care taken by most people. Hand gel dispensers have appeared in Mall toilets and people are loath to visit town regardless of only two people out of half a million showing positive.Maybe when it has peaked panic will subside.
Nothing seems to have changed here, no empty shelves, etc, and this town might be more vulnerable, because a lot of folks associated with the university travel a lot, including overseas. Spring break starts Monday here. Lots of students will be traveling. I'd be surprised if we don't see a few cases after that. The University claims to have several plans ready, but they don't know what to expect, so they haven't implemented anything beyond CDC guidelines. I did use the hand wipes for the first time at the grocery store last visit. A few years after retiring I joined a gym for 18 months. In that period I got 3 colds. Used hand wipes both coming and going, and the staff was constantly running around spraying down all the equipment with disinfectant. I think gyms must be loaded with viruses that spread through the air, all that heavy breathing going on.
We were going to go to an Indian Pow Wow in a couple of weeks, but have decided not to. There is always next year. Haven't been going to church and will continue not to. No movie theaters for awhile either. Do have to go to Walmart, but will shop fast and get out of there. IOW, whatever we have to do/not do, we will...…...like it or not.
I just got an iPhone News Alert that all NCAA women and men's basketball games will be play with no fans. St. Pat's Day parade in Denver is cancelled as well. Numerous concerts/tours, like the Zack Brown Band, have cancelled their tours. I read online this AM that, if though there has been a warning from the CDC about taking a cruise, there were lots of people in Miami in line to board one. This included a 75 yr. old lady who stated, "I'll leave this in God's hands. He will protect me." Another person stated, "10% of me said "don't go", but 90% me said "go" and the 90% won." IOW, sounds like many, many people simply don't care about the warnings from anyone. Also read that tapings of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy will be done with no audience.
Saint Patrick's parades have been postponed around here. Some schools are having on-line classes only. Nothing but coronaviris on the news. I'll be glad when it's over.
The N B A has cancelled the season. tom Hanks and his wife arein Australia and have tested positive for the virus.. A congress woman in the state of Washington has a staff member who has tested positive. This virus is beginning to spread.
I don't understand why they are cancelling basketball, or any sports. They should just test the players and the staff and if they are all well, play the games with no fans and televise it. You can see everything much better on TV anyway, and it would keep people at home watching. ETA: It looks like some of the players have tested positive. That's different.
My wife's older sister, and her daughter, have bought airline tickets to fly to a wedding. The sister doesn't want to fly, she wasn't to drive, but the daughter insists on flying and won that decision. We don't want either to go, but. We have decided not to go to a rather large public event in Denver...…….a yearly Indian Pow Wow. Have gone to this event before, when we lived in Colorado, and it was great, but with this virus thing going on......no way. When it was announced, on Facebook, that the Pow Wow will go on, many Facebook users totally disagreed with the decision stating that the organization is putting the elderly and young Indian dancers at a great health risk.