I am not worried for us, because there's little I can do about it that I'm not already doing. it's a cold virus and it's now everywhere. It was always GOING to be everywhere, and it was always going to be more virulent and worse symptomatically than the colds people already get, because it's new. I know I will get it sooner or later and so will everyone else on planet Earth. I work in long term care, so it's pretty much a guarantee that I will get it sooner rather than later--workers catch bugs from their kids and come to work sick ALL the time. Great-grandchildren come to visit and touch everything. Cough all over everything. Elderly people in the home touch everything, pick their noses and scratch their nether regions and privates (I had a chuckle at
@kenya's "Houhaw") and do NOT wash their hands, and so catch everything within shooting distance.
Honestly, if you knew what even the most innocuous respiratory virus does to our cells, it's a small miracle we survive any of them at all.
Slowing the spread is VERY VERY VERY important because there aren't enough hospital beds for 1% of the population (never mind 10%) and certainly not enough ventilators! Many of the sickest patients will die waiting for one. Some of them will be elderly, rich folks whose spending power will suddenly be removed from the economy. We are already in "Outbreak" mode at the home I work at, not because there have been any cases yet, but to limit outside contacts and to step up the cleaning and disinfection processes. Probably a good idea for everyone, everywhere to do just that (glaring at my husbands' cousin, who took his 5 year old to the emergency room today for a cold). Seriously folks, unless you're in IMMINENT danger of drowning, don't show up at an emergency room, mask or no mask.
I AM worried for people in the U.S., ones with no health insurance or inadequate coverage. A good friend of mine is bedbound with MS and has no coverage except what their V.A. provides, which is all sorts of pathetic. The only people in the States who are getting tested are those who can afford the coverage or the testing fee, which means as many as 70,000,000 people could (potentially) be sick, dying or already dead from this, and WE WILL NEVER KNOW. It's impossible to get any sort of reliable statistics.
I'm not hoarding anything, I don't need to. I have toilet paper for a week, no more because toilet paper is a convenience, not a necessity--I have bags of rags, and I know how to use them
and bonus, they're washable and reusable. Worst case scenario (like the grid goes down and repairs are delayed indefinitely) I've got food, water, medications, heat, the ability to cook with or without power, and fuel for the generator for about 2 months, maybe 3. After that, garden season will be in full swing and I'm surrounded by meat, and I have a hand-dug well hiding in my side yard that I can uncap if needed, so I'm good for food and water.
I'm not expecting things to get nearly that bad, by any stretch, but I think I'm reasonably prepared should things go horribly sideways. Either way, If (WHEN) I get a cold, I'll make sure to cough all over F.I.L. (who is an absolute waste of skin) and then perhaps there will be a silver lining to this whole mess
There was close to 40 people going altogether. We started talking about postponing a few days ago and today it's been made official. Air travel is not a good idea right now. I dont want to get sick but more importantly I dont want my elderly in-laws to get sick....I also don't want to be part of the problem...and I DO NOT want to be trapped in any country that closes its borders (especially a country with a less than stellar healthcare system). Easy decision to make but I do feel sad for the bride and groom. I know that many think that there is an over-reaction happening with all of the cancellations and warnings. I hope they are right. I would rather err on the side of caution and do what I can for myself, my family and those around me.
