new coronavirus outbreak China, Korea, USA - mod warnings in OP (updated 24/02/20)

GooglePlus wrote: »

We have to remember that they did silence the doctor who brought this to official attention and made him denounce what he had said, so they are somewhat responsible for the delay in containment action.

theguzman wrote: »

So tonight I had a long and serious discussion with both my parents who are both recently retired within the last 12-24 months. Both are late-60's.

My mother in particular is extremely high risk in the event of contracting 2019-nCov, she suffers from COPD and is a former smoker. Almost 10 years ago she quit smoking after one month in hospital including several days in ICU on Oxygen. My father has good lungs but suffers from high-Blood pressure but is in far better health than my mother despite being older.

I am extremely concerned and it is almost 100% certain if my mother was to contract this virus it will kill her.

My mother and father thankfully have agreed to go into voluntary isolation quarantine as soon as the first confirmed case arrives in Ireland, this is a matter of when and not if in my own opinion.

We are lucky in that we own an extremely remote property, my mothers homeplace and the house itself in in liveable condition with power, heating etc. Our plan is both my parents will go to that house for as long as is absolutely necessary, avoiding contact with others is the only way to survive.

This absolute isolation is my mothers only hope should it come into Ireland. Tomorrow we will start preparing there with supplies, 3 months worth of medicine, luckily the lpg tank was recently filled with gas as it has gas heating. This house is over 0.75km from the public road and 3kms from the nearest occupied house. It gives brilliant isolation.

If an outbreak comes I will print off and laminate signs warning people to keep back that those living there are infected, and we will lock the gates. We will stock up with things like flour, potatoes, powdered milk, and remove food from their normal house to this location. The lists here have been very helpful thus far. The house is located on the family farm where my father goes daily anyway to and has its own water from the farm. In an apocalypse type situation we will assume no electricity, so freezer's wont be any good.

Both my parents were into their late teens and twenties before power arrived so they know life without electricity. I will fill a few 5 gallon drums of Diesel which can be stored to run the car for news reports or to charge a mobile phone from the cigar lighter in the very worst case scenario.

Basically planning for the worst and hoping for the best, if the SHTF both my parents will hopefully have 3 months before they'd resort to having to butcher any of the animals.

Even if it came into Ireland it could takes weeks before we'd see a Wuhan style situation so early isolation is key. My mother and father are comparing it already to stories from their respective parents of World War 2 with rationing etc.

By getting my parents into isolation, I can also self-isolate in their new house if required, it is in a far less secure location from the point of view of looting. I have a holiday to South America booked for myself and a friend so if Ireland got infected we could wait it out over there or else stay home and not travel to begin with.

My points thus far.

Don't panic, educate yourself, make informed choices
Do prepare, do buy essential items, these might increase in price anyway in a less serious situation e.g. a winter flu type situation, you'd have just paid it ahead and might save money in the long run. Think of a full larder of food as money in the bank. Don't buy stuff you don't normally eat anyway.
We are lucky that we are facing this as spring is arriving as the days get longer and temps increase.