They didn't declare a national swine flu emergency until 4 months had passed and 1,000 Americans were dead from it. Whether corona is as lethal as swine flu or not (apparently not, at least for most), I do not mind last night's announcement. Especially given what Italy looks like right now.

Why people are panicking into buying toilet paper over a respiratory illness, I can't begin to figure out.

I don't understand the toilet paper thing either. I went to harbor freight to get a couple of masks for sanding and grinding in my shop and they are sold out. I guess I'll blow out the old one for now or use a bandanna. Should keep the sawdust out of my nose. So far everything is pretty normal here in South Carolina.

The green is mostly due to Italy and Iran, but you can see just how rapidly things can get out of control. In just a couple of more days there will be more deaths in Europe than there has been all year in China.
Since late January I've been saying look at the facts and data and make rational preparations. The people hoarding bottled water and toilet paper are being irrational and just making the situation worse.

Fortunately I won’t run out of razor blades.

My son's basketball tournament has been cancelled this week, as has my daughter's field trip here in SC. Restaurants have been noticeably affected. The fact that the NBA is shutting the season down is incredible, as are the actions taken with the NCAA tournament. Nursing homes here are quarantined, and hospitals are setting up drive thru testing stations. Lots of doctors offices are offering diagnostic services over the phone for routine issues.

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And that's with no identified cases in our area.

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Oh hell, now they are closing all schools for another week. This week is spring break, and next week closed for Corona. Absolutely retarded. My daughter is running around the house celebrating. I told he she still had homework, and to do it like she was going to school, on Monday. That shut her up.

If you are told to self quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, hopefully you'll have enough toilet paper for the duration. People making sure they have sufficient stock of the basics to last thru a self quarantine period isn't panicking. Of course, a years supply is overdoing it a bit.

True or not, I can't say. https://m.ctpost.com/news/article/Iran-s-coronavirus-burial-pits-are-so-vast-15125717.php

If a satellite can see a person or better from space, I don't see why it wouldn't be able to see a burial pit of even modest size. I haven't seen them so I cannot comment on the actual size of the pits, but just seeing something from space is a clickbait headline imo.

True.

so just a more local update. we are about to be put under quarantine where I live. Schools will be shut down for at minimum 2 weeks if not longer. Now its a matter of how we are going to graduate and or do classes online. everything is up in the air at this point. Ya'll just stay safe. gonna be stocking up on groceries this weekend before it sells out. They are predicting a shortage (doesnt surprise me) a bunch of stores near me are already out of Lysol and other cleaning Products.

Norway "shutting down."

https://theweek.com/speedreads/901770/entire-country-norway-shutting-down

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15729/coronavirus-europe-crisis

I want to retract part of my initial statement. Due to more information, infants need not be on the concerned list. Plus, only those with suppressed immune systems and respiratory issues, as well as elderly need to worry.
I will continue to go about my daily life as before.

..

I'm glad you said "shutting"(the season down-NBA)rather than this silly "shuttering" that appears to be written everywhere. To me, a shutter is part of a house, and that ONLY. But to be serious, as a former Board Member at my town's Senior Center, I really worry about what the elderly will be going through.

New for 2020:

"The veneer of civilization is so thin it is never more than one Roll of Toilet Paper away from Anarchy"

~Glen 2020


Some of you might get that one

Senior Center?? You are only 62. The elderly, around 75+, do need to be concerned.
In Italy, the hospitals are short on ventilators, and having to decide who gets them. They are deciding the younger patients have a more useful life ahead of them, and can contribute more, so the younger are the ones getting respirators, and necessary equipment. Sounds like Socialized Medicine.

That's what is known as death panels.