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Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

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Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#21

Post by Someone1234 »

darkteflon wrote: post #9
Someone1234 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That plan seems predicated on the assumption that COVID-19 will burn itself out and disappear in a matter of months. But there's no current evidence to suggest that will be the case, and if we look to similar diseases, they have been around for tens of years. Even if it depresses in the summer months, it will return in full force next winter (see e.g. flu, common colds, etc). Best case scenario a working vaccine is i…

The mind boggles at how people can characterise preparation of a month’s worth of food, water and other essentials as “bomb shelter”-style hunkering down. The CDC, amongst other US and foreign government agencies, recommend it. When the CDC speaks, I listen.

Where did the CDC recommend a months worth of food and water for COVID-19 specifically?

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#22

Post by justinzollars »

I'm obsessed with China and to watch a modern society go from 100 to near zero, is incredible. That concerns me especially living in San Francisco where it seems society is already fragile to say the least.

- I stopped taking public transportation on January 20th; so I'm biking to work now. I'm much more healthy because of this decision

- invested in Gold, Gold stocks and puts expiring March 20th betting against the market (Though I did most of this 2 years ago because of the trade war, and the puts were purchased in December)

- I've got some extra food and water, and lots of purell

- I've called my grandparents and told them, the virus is very dangerous effecting older people [1]. I told them to stock up on food medicine, and if they hear word of it spreading to stay indoors.

[1] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coronavirus-fatality-rates...

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#23

Post by wenc »

davidw wrote: post #14

Bought some extra food; planning on buying some extra dayquil type medication. Fervently hoping that maybe I can donate some of it if things blow over. Maybe getting some extra soap, and especially TP. I'll be the king of the neighborhood if I'm the last one with real TP!

> I'll be the king of the neighborhood if I'm the last one with real TP!

Consider getting a portable bidet as an alternative. All you need is water.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#24

Post by bad_user »

Someone1234 wrote: post #2

I'm not. There's no meaningful preparations for avoiding what is essentially a really dangerous variant of the common cold at an individual level. Now governments and the medical field should be preparing for it. But most of that is logistical problems (e.g. number of hospital beds, preparing quarantine plans, test kits, etc). You can order a bunch of masks if it makes you feel better, but countries with common mask…

Masks don't help because of low quality and people lack proper training... you shouldn't touch the mask, you shouldn't reuse it, you should properly dispose it, etc.

A saner advice is to wash your hands frequently and to avoid touching your face when in public. Because you can get this virus by touching infected surfaces and then touching your face. It doesn't seem to be an airborn virus, but it does survive on surfaces.

I cary a hand sanitizer for those moments in public when I feel the need to scratch my face :-)

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#25

Post by gambiting »

geophile wrote: post #6
Someone1234 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That plan seems predicated on the assumption that COVID-19 will burn itself out and disappear in a matter of months. But there's no current evidence to suggest that will be the case, and if we look to similar diseases, they have been around for tens of years. Even if it depresses in the summer months, it will return in full force next winter (see e.g. flu, common colds, etc). Best case scenario a working vaccine is i…

I am assuming that in the next few weeks I will need to be isolated for 3-4 weeks. I am assuming that electricity is mostly on, and water to my home is mostly available, (although possibly tainted -- preparing for that). After that, who knows. Hopefully there will be a vaccine.

Why would the water be tainted?

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#27

Post by justinzollars »

allovernow wrote: post #18

This is very likely to overwhelm not just medical infrastructure, but shut down supply chains for basic necessities for months. If the pandemic hits, most businesses will shutter, just like in China. It is prudent to stock up now for 1-2 months of cheap, non- perishable foods like rice and beans (complete protein together) at a minimum. There's just no excuse not to now if you make a tech salary - a couple hundred do…

You could also donate these types of items after a vaccine is developed.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#28

Post by twistedanimator »

bartread wrote: post #8

We ran a drill a couple of weeks back where everybody worked from home to ensure that if we have to close our office we are able to continue working (assuming we're not ill, of course). This was really just to shake out any issues. Fortunately, since most of us already work remotely for at least some of the time we didn't have any significant issues. Beyond that, nothing really.

Wow, that's refreshingly forward thinking! I wish my company took remote work seriously.

Re: Ask HN: How are you preparing for COVID-19 disruptions?

#29

Post by Cyph0n »

geophile wrote: post #3

Things are simpler for me than for many, since I am retired. - Planning purchases for hunkering down for a few weeks: Food, water, batteries, water purifier, battery-powered radio, hand-crank power generator for radio, etc. - Sold 50% of my stock holdings. - Putting a large amount cash in my checking account. - Getting a smaller amount of cash (paper) to have at home.

> - Putting a large amount cash in my checking account.

Shouldn't you be doing the opposite? Banks go down pretty quickly when society panics.

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