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CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

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Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#21

Not sure if this is the right place but what would be best for one stock up on ahead of time? I'm thinking non-perishables or stuff with a high shelf life but what else should you consider buying?

shotguns and shells; then you don't need to buy anything else

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#22
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for posting these. I'm putting some time into preparing my family for any potential quarantine situations here in the US. These guides are aimed at policymakers and government officials. Have you, by chance, found any practical guides for what individuals can do to increase the resiliency of their households? I assume this is all very similar to having a well-stocked earthquake kit (which we do have), but I'm…

I haven't seen any good guides for individual and household preparedness, but I think that this guide "Interim Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Homes and Residential Communities" ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-preve... ), especially the precautions section, can be a useful place to see what would be needed to prepare. Some things to have besides fo…

A good overview food storage guide.

http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec446.pdf

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#23
So I see this information from the CDC and news outlets, but the head of the World Health Organization seems to be saying something quite different:

“For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death.”

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/who-tries-to-calm-ta...

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#24

Not sure if this is the right place but what would be best for one stock up on ahead of time? I'm thinking non-perishables or stuff with a high shelf life but what else should you consider buying?

Anything you need on a daily/weekly basis. We stock up on very low glycemic index protein bars and water. Lots of bottled water.

Are problems with water supplies foreseen?

This isn't some natural disaster where infrastructure is ruined, just people can't go out much.

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#25

The tens of millions of people in the US who are underinsured, lack sick leave, or can’t afford to miss work would seem to almost guarantee a disaster if this hits with force, no? 27% of people in the US can’t even afford a $400 emergency expense, which is (generously) the cost of maybe one visit to verify illness or moderate symptoms.

Insurance is irrelevant if there aren't enough hospital beds or medical staff/facilities to handle a widespread pandemic. I think you're focusing on the wrong issue, likely based on the political nature of the current healthcare debate.

The real guarantees of a disaster are: Do businesses have enough cashflow to handle lack of just in time inventory from China if their shelves run dry? Do millions of people in the US have enough cashflow to handle rent payments if jobs are shut down due to quarantine and they don't get hourly wages? Do we have enough pharmaceuticals on hand to overcome the supply dip, given that 80% of our drugs are manufactured in the Wuhan area? IMO health insurance rates are the least of our problems.

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#26
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for posting these. I'm putting some time into preparing my family for any potential quarantine situations here in the US. These guides are aimed at policymakers and government officials. Have you, by chance, found any practical guides for what individuals can do to increase the resiliency of their households? I assume this is all very similar to having a well-stocked earthquake kit (which we do have), but I'm…

I haven't seen any good guides for individual and household preparedness, but I think that this guide "Interim Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Homes and Residential Communities" ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-preve... ), especially the precautions section, can be a useful place to see what would be needed to prepare. Some things to have besides fo…

Do the N95 face masks that you can buy at the grocery even do anything to prevent the spread of coronavirus?

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#27
post #15

I'm lucky enough to work remotely so if schools do close, I can still earn a living while the kids are at home. I can't even imagine what kind of hell it's going to bring parents if schools shut down for any extended period of time. Same thing with small businesses - shutting them down is really going to hurt local economies. In my city, small business are about to shut down because of construction on a main stretch…

> I can't even imagine what kind of hell it's going to bring parents if schools shut down for any extended period of time. It would only be hell because its illegal, not because it's actually a problem. There is no good reason for why you couldn't leave a healthy school-aged child home alone for the duration of a workday. That is, if you've actually raised them well. Billions of people around the world have been rais…

[deleted]

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#28
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't seen any good guides for individual and household preparedness, but I think that this guide "Interim Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Homes and Residential Communities" ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-preve... ), especially the precautions section, can be a useful place to see what would be needed to prepare. Some things to have besides fo…

Do the N95 face masks that you can buy at the grocery even do anything to prevent the spread of coronavirus?

From what I understand n95 masks should work when used properly.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use...

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#29

Not sure if this is the right place but what would be best for one stock up on ahead of time? I'm thinking non-perishables or stuff with a high shelf life but what else should you consider buying?

It seems reasonable to make a run to Costco or Sams club to load up on dry goods and paper supplies. Better to do so now than after a panic hits. You don't have to go all doomsday prepper and get 10 year shelf life cans of beans. But maybe enough toilet paper, ramen noodles, and bottled water to last through 30 days of not wanting to leave the house much.

Anecdotally, I was in Costco last week and saw a woman shopping directly from a "Disaster Preparedness Checklist". I strongly suspect that there will be a wave of panic shopping in the next few weeks. Better to get after it now. Actually ignore that, wait until I finish shopping then go out.

Re: CDC outlines what closing schools, businesses would look like in US pandemic

#30

Not sure if this is the right place but what would be best for one stock up on ahead of time? I'm thinking non-perishables or stuff with a high shelf life but what else should you consider buying?

So take a moment every time you use something and ask yourself - what will I do if I don't have this thing? If there is no good alternative or if the alternatives are unthinkable...Make a list from that. One thing to start with: You are on the toilet and you reach for the TP - there is none...now, add that to your list.
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