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Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

virologydownunder.com

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Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#41

Post by icegreentea2 »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #6

The premise of this article is that we should essentially press the “panic button” now, to get people through the shock of preparing for a pandemic while we know it’s safe to do so. > Suggesting things people can do to prepare for a possible hard time to come doesn’t just get them better prepared logistically. It also helps get them better prepared emotionally. It helps get them through the Oh My God (OMG) moment eve…

The specific advice for food storage is "weeks" not couple months - the couple months is directed at prescription meds. The different timelines allocated is likely due to the relative feasibility, the risk of running out, and the ease of resupply.

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#42

Post by speedgoose »

carbocation wrote: post #36
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #6

The premise of this article is that we should essentially press the “panic button” now, to get people through the shock of preparing for a pandemic while we know it’s safe to do so. > Suggesting things people can do to prepare for a possible hard time to come doesn’t just get them better prepared logistically. It also helps get them better prepared emotionally. It helps get them through the Oh My God (OMG) moment eve…

I think there is a real need to understand how much of a vector our phone screens are. People touch their phones, wash their hands, and then touch their phones again.

Yes, we should wash our phones too. It's very simple when the phone is waterproof.

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#43

Post by achamayou »

carbocation wrote: post #36
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #6

The premise of this article is that we should essentially press the “panic button” now, to get people through the shock of preparing for a pandemic while we know it’s safe to do so. > Suggesting things people can do to prepare for a possible hard time to come doesn’t just get them better prepared logistically. It also helps get them better prepared emotionally. It helps get them through the Oh My God (OMG) moment eve…

I think there is a real need to understand how much of a vector our phone screens are. People touch their phones, wash their hands, and then touch their phones again.

I suspect cases are even worse. Screens are at least smooth and easy to clean.

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#44

Post by velcro »

At the risk of going full doomsday mode (and besides stockpiling on food and masks) - lets say pandemic happens and some useful meds/vitamins do go out of stock - is there any advice what those are i.e. what kind of meds/vitamins would be practical to buy right now to help fight/slow COVID-19/infection in the future?

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#45

Post by carbocation »

ianai wrote: post #17
pyk wrote: post #9

Recommendations for what individuals can do are buried but very practical: * Try to get a few extra months’ worth of prescription meds, if possible. * Think through now how we will take care of sick family members while trying not to get infected. Cross-train key staff at work so one person’s absence won’t derail our organization’s ability to function. * Practice touching our faces less. So how about a face-counter a…

Wish getting meds in advance were more accessible.

With few exceptions, you should be able to ask your MD for a 90 day supply with 3 refills (enough for 3 months immediately, with refills for the rest of the year).

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#46

Post by bpfrh »

jacquesm wrote: post #20
bpfrh wrote: post #13

There is a video which compares that to other causes of deaths and other "pandemics": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dDD2tHWWnU Please stop threating the virus as if we would all die. The things you have in the article should be the things you should do anyway: -No touching your face, is something you should stop anyway, as the flu will also kill you if you have bad luck and it is the same problem -Having certain t…

No, we won't all die. But the impact will be substantial if the infections are not brought under control. Just like not everybody dies from many other diseases such as the flu. The difference here is that it also hits hard on otherwise healthy people and that healthcare workers are very much exposed to infection. If that front line does not hold it can get worse rapidly. Western countries with good medicine and infra…

You can't controll infections.

You can try to fasttrack vaccinies, but you can't really stop a virus with such a transmission way from spreading.

That is a problem but it is nothing new.

Every few years we will have new diseases and unfortunately they will spread and kill people.

The flu does that yearly.

Does that suck? Yes

Will it mean the end of the world or have a high impact on countries that have a robust healtcare system? No

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#47

Post by jacquesm »

RobertRoberts wrote: post #34

Give me the numbers. People panic over everything imaginable. The only defense is logic. (which unfortunately is only a slow and long term defense) At this point I feel I am more likely to win the lottery and get struck my lightning twice before I get this virus. And even then, what is the death rate for healthy adults? It's amazing how easily people freak out these days.

At this point, yes. But that's not the way to look at this. The way to look at this is what will happen over the next couple of weeks/months and to what degree we can avoid community spreading once the virus achieves a foothold, which - sorry - at this point is mostly a matter of time.

Containment can be done early on and if done effectively can get you back into your 'no need to worry' mode. But once containment has failed you are in different territory and will have to play a much more complex game with more substantial impact.

So your present day chances of contracting this in the next 24 hours are looking pretty good but your chances of contracting this in the next couple of months are substantially better than winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning even once. Unless you live the life of a hermit.

A vaccine would be quite handy, but we do not have one - yet , though that race is on - and even if we had it you still need to make it in quantity to be effective. A virus doesn't particularly care about whether you are able to think logically or not. It cares about contact between people and not killing its host too quickly. That way it improves its chances of spreading its genetic code.

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#48

Post by mc32 »

carbocation wrote: post #36
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #6

The premise of this article is that we should essentially press the “panic button” now, to get people through the shock of preparing for a pandemic while we know it’s safe to do so. > Suggesting things people can do to prepare for a possible hard time to come doesn’t just get them better prepared logistically. It also helps get them better prepared emotionally. It helps get them through the Oh My God (OMG) moment eve…

I think there is a real need to understand how much of a vector our phone screens are. People touch their phones, wash their hands, and then touch their phones again.

Sporklenz for the phones and keyboards?

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#49

Post by johnwheeler »

Before you propagate this information and take action, read this post about the psychology of fear mongering, and ask yourself if you identify with it.

1. Do you tend to mistrust authority?

2. Do you feel powerless to control the course of your life?

3. Do you feel like you have special information and insight the rest of us do not?

4. Do you feel comfort when thinking about the end of the world because once it happens, you will be prepared and validated?

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/psychology...

Re: Past Time to Tell the Public:It Will Probably Go Pandemic, We Should Prepare Now

#50

Post by carbocation »

achamayou wrote: post #43
carbocation wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a real need to understand how much of a vector our phone screens are. People touch their phones, wash their hands, and then touch their phones again.

I suspect cases are even worse. Screens are at least smooth and easy to clean.

Good point. I go caseless so I just spray both sides of my phone with an alcohol-based solvent and wipe with kimwipes (the same way I clean my glasses).

But I certainly haven’t been conditioned to do this as often as I wash my hands.

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