I wanted to talk to my counselor today about my worry of my meds being hard to get. She kept “challenging” me by asking if that is a realistic concern. Uh. Yeah. My doc who thinks all the panic is stupid actually thinks yes, med shortages are an issue worth concern and to get meds filled in advance. Counselor was very dismissive that I have nothing to be concerned about.
^Sorry to hear your counselor is being such a muppet JMH. What does your counselor know anyway? Nothing that you don't already know and you may find that all of these people who are doing this challenging and 'don't panic' crap are actually making sure their own situations are ok too despite what they may be telling their clients.
I really loathe people who attack the notion of common sense.
There is nothing wrong with being prepared - whatever that means for you and within reason of course.
There may be limits to how many packets of meds you can buy anyway? But buying up to the limit is ok if you're going to use that med in the foreseeable future. Why not?
I think it's perfectly rational to look forward and assess what you may need if you are required to isolate away from this virus for a while.
The virus outbreak may continue to shut down factories, ports and transportation so that's a
fact. There is a worldwide shortage of shipping containers right now - empty ones that is - because China isn't filling them up & sending them out - with stuff in them.
All of this wondering if we should be wondering is unnecessary imo. Of course we should be wondering & questioning. The virus is real & it's not contained so looking after oneself takes the responsibility off somebody else doing it. That doesn't mean being selfish or panicking rather it's being sensible.
Go get the meds before they sell out. On the US infectious diseases website it mentions that vulnerable or high risk people should be considering their needs such as this.
My country as invoked travel bans, quarantined lots of people returning from high risk places and commenced prepping for it's nationwide emergency response. I think that's a good thing. At a personal level there are things I can do too - helping out my elderly friends and relatives and making sure I've got stuff I will need.
how long before our respective countries pick up the slack
^That depends on what is needed & the availability of raw materials. Eg face masks for medical staff - Our government has asked the factories that do make it here to ramp up production. Good idea - China are hanging onto their masks and it's obvious why they are.
Or will we just have to go without?
^For lots of stuff? Quite possibly so.
How far and wide will the virus spread?
As the WHO have said
repeatedly this virus respects no borders. Once
community transmission begins MTW - it's not easily contained.
How is the slowing of Chinese production, across the board, going to effect our economy/economies?
^Have you had a look at the stock exchange in the last week? Biggest & fastest slump since the GFC.
But the good news is that most economists say that whilst stocks & economies are plummeting fast, recovery will be almost as fast if not faster once the virus emergency peaks or the whole thing declines one way or the other.
Are we in a country that could hyperreact and start forcing people into camps, distressingly, this is being reported from China, and, I think, Italy?
^That's not hyper-reacting MTW.
Australia has laws
already that have existed for so long I cannot remember that can force a person (s) into quarantine to protect the community. It has to be that way or we'd have no hope of protecting our most vulnerable. And so do other countries.
South Korea has just announced that anyone breaking quarantine there may face a year in prison. Though that surely is shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
Australia has already imposed quarantine on persons returning from countries where the virus is not contained. You'd know this of course.
Hospitals are gearing up to transfer or defer non essential surgery. Fever clinics are being organised and medical staff are being briefed. Money is being freed up to provide for an emergency response.
Is any of that silly? No... prudent would be a better description.
Australia also uses all of it's quarantine laws and with force if necessary to preserve our agriculture, wildlife & other industries.
In terms of
protection. It is easier to force quarantine onto the few who are infected, rather than accommodate the rest of the population away from them. It's purely logistical in.
It's a balance between protecting society against diseases that are transmissible and preserving the privacy and liberty of those that have the disease. It's not an easy balance but the law and its application are rarely easy or popular companions. But the aim is the preservation of life.
