Coronavirus - should we prepare?

It isn't flu, Espee. The virus is not an influenzal virus. Corona is of the same 'family' as the common cold and SARS. Even if it had appeared before the current flu vaccine was created, it could never have been part of the same vaccine.

Ha Ha Daisymae. My emergency food cupboard is known as the Brexit cupboard! Everything still untouched!

Living in the middle of nowhere means we are always well stocked up during the winter months. If I fall ill I rely on deliveries for fresh stuff.

The only precautions we'll take are the normal winter ones.
Fortunately DH doesn't have any forthcoming outpatients appointments. The last time we were there (two weeks ago) we could hear staff complaining that people were coming in with 'flu' symptoms despite the signs to stay away.

Any case I still have my Brexit box!

There certainly will be food shortages in shops if the idiotic idea of stockpiling gathers momentum.

The rate of increase of new cases has slowed so it seems likely it is coming under control.

In any case, the vast majority of people who catch it recover .

It is flu. A new variant but still flu. Every year the predicted mutations are included in the flu vaccine which hopefully we have all had. Unfortunately this variant wasn’t predicted but that doesn’t mean we are all doomed.
Just take the precautions recommended by the NHS and get on with your life.

I don't think that the World Health Organisation would be so concerned if it was just flu. It's a new virus that no one has any immunity to. I think we need to be aware of what's going on but I would not think that there's any need to panic buy. Our health services are stretched to breaking point and could not cope with a major outbreak. I had the misfortune to visit our local out of hours walk in center recently, a 2 hour wait despite having an appointment in the evening. One of the patients was a new born who also waited 2 hours. We can only hope that it's contained and take sensible precautions in the interim.

no need to stockpile, assuming you are already old school prudent and have some foods in for any emergency. No need to worry either, except if living in Brighton, which has 4 cases who have been in contact with many people

I think people are burying their heads and sticking their fingers in their ears.
ordinary flu, there is nothing ordinary about flu and if you say that you clearly have never had the flu.
I will not be stock piling food.

Totally agree with vampirequeen. It is a bug, the death rate is 1% or less. For most people it will be the equivalent of no more than a winter bug, which they probably get very winter anyway.

The problem is that if it goes free so many people will be ill at the same time that it will disrupt schools offices, and the the NHS.

I am old enough to remember the Asian flu epidemic of 1957 (I think). Most schools had to close down, mine closed for a fortnight, offices, factories. I was too young to be aware of the affect it had on the medical services but I know the mother of one girl in my class died of it, but she already had health problems.

The biggest threat to those with the virus is the pneumonia that some sufferers get. I have had the pneumonia job, which I assume will offer some protection.

The biggest threat to the rest of us is people panicking and running round like headless chickens over stocking with food, most of which will go uneaten and later be thrown out.

It's thought to be about as dangerous as the ordinary flu. I fail to see how stocking up would help, though. I get most of my shopping online anyway.

If I were too ill to go out, I'd get my daughter to drop off some things outside, then get them when she'd gone!

I think older people are more vulnerable, I guess that's us although ordinary flu can prove fatal year on year. I suppose we can't dismiss the severity of what's happening in China right now, I can't imagine the authorities want their country to grind to a halt, deaths aside, the financial implications must be enormous. I always wash my hands anyway after shopping, especially when touching cash machines, rails and similar germ ridden surfaces.

I have added a couple of multi packs of baked beans to an Ocado order being delivered tomorrow. I haven't noticed bare shelves anywhere yet!

Oh my goodness! It is an outbreak of flu, not Armageddon. Please please don’t listen to the scaremongering being whipped up by the media.

I don't think that supermarkets will close although you might not want to go there if there's a local outbreak. The best thing to do is to wash hands frequently and steer clear of anyone with a cough etc. There's info on the government website.

It's just another bug. Most people will be ill for a short while then be OK again. Like all illnesses some people will get complications and sadly, a few will die. However to put it in perspective even if you catch it you have a 98/99% chance of recovering.

No. I don't think we should be worried. But I do think fear mongering spreads quickly, and that's what worries me more than the virus. I don't live in the UK, or in China, but where I do live currently many supermarket shelves have been stripped bare because of idiotic people listening to fear mongering on social media. Trade deliveries are being delivered as normal, and there are no shortages of food, or other supplies, getting to the supermarkets, but stupid people are stocking up, and emptying the shelves like the world is going into lockdown! People need to get a grip, and just take sensible precautions.