It looks like the flu but the mortality rate is currently stated as 20 times higher. Are you prepared?
You’ve already read the published general guidelines about preventing and surviving the Corona virus. Let’s skip that and share personal thoughts plans and yes fears. There is never a time to panic and preparing is not panicking.
First a couple of practical things that have come to me.
My prescription meds are all on a 30 day cycle. If I were quarantined (more about that later) and ran out I would get very sick. Monday I plan to call my doctor and have them changed so I can get 90 days worth at a time. I’ve seen the same doc for 15 years and we trust each other. I’m sure we can do this over the phone. Depending on your relationship and your prescriptions you might have to make an appointment. Might be worth it. What would happen if you became unable to fill your prescriptions toward the end of the month and had to wait for two or more weeks?
There are no N-95 masks available locally that I can find. You can still order them on-line but be sure they specify N-95 and are not just dust or surgical masks. Those are less than worthless because they could create a false sense of security. Price shop on the web. There is price gouging and I’m sure there are scams. Make sure the site is reliable. The usual price for these masks is about $1 each when bought in a package. That’s a benchmark you may pay more but some prices are outrageous. Consider gloves as well. It’s not always convenient to wash your hands every time you touch a public door handle for instance.
I live in a senor apartment building. About 75 people live here. If one person tested positive or came down with the virus we would expect to be fully quarantined. How would we survive? It’s a fear that’s free floating legitimate fear around the halls.
Some have mobility issues, some depend on a variety of caregivers and have special needs. Some depend on public transportation and of course everybody shops for food, medication, other supplies and so forth. How would we survive if we are cut off? We really don’t know all the answers and hopefully never will have to.
I’m personally a very self sufficient person and hadn’t given it much thought but their concerns brought it home to me and I got to thinking. In an emergency humans have an emergent quality. We form a community and take care of ourselves. We do what humans have done for thousands of years. We would come together and help each other.
You don’t live long enough to be a senior without some skills. First not everyone would get sick and so the well would nurse the sick. Some have this skill and others that but everyone knows life. The more mobile would help the less mobile. We have a community kitchen and could cook together, for those who can’t, or to share limited supplies. Casualties would be expected. You begin to die the day you are born. Even though it isn’t pleasant senors already live with that. As a community we would survive.
On this site we have supported those who are sick and mourned those who have passed. We wouldn’t lose our Internet connections. I would expect that we would also draw together as a virtual community here as well. And quite honestly I would expect to get more reliable news from this community than the official propaganda machine. In an emergency reliable news is vitally important and unreliable news is deadly.
You are only alone if you chose to be. It isn’t too early to consider who you might be able to help and who you might call to help you.
The infection and mortality rates are higher than the flu but not yet well determined. Statistically you would have a very high chance of surviving even if this became a pandemic and as of now it hasn’t even been classified as an epidemic. It could pass us by relatively unscathed.
Fear is normal. Fear is only deadly if it paralyzes you but it’s full Darwin when it energizes you. Don’t become paralyzed.
Please share your thoughts, fears, and plans and especially things that haven’t been mentioned or considered?
BREAKING: 2-28-20 10:47 PM PST KING5 News Seattle Reports two active Corona Virus cases in the Seattle area. One person, a teen, has not traveled outside of the US. Feeling ill he missed a day of school but then returned before his test showed that he was positive. There is obvious exposure here. This is considered a community case with no know origin. The other is a woman had traveled to South Korea. These cases are within 50 miles or so. Too close for comfort.
Trump lies. Wait until he realizes that he isn’t immune. He will panic and the result whatever it is will not be good.
