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These are not ordinary times. Seems that it takes quite a lot of time for a lot of people to grasp the severity of the situation. My take is that in the near t

These are not ordinary times. Seems that it takes quite a lot of time for a lot of people to grasp the severity of the situation. My take is that in the near term (1-2 months), there will be a shortage of a lot of produce, especially food. I really hope I'm wrong. I suggest you stock up everything for 2-4 weeks - it's something I've done. My plan is to go out buying every 2 weeks or so.

david-gpu 7y ago
> My take is that in the near term (1-2 months), there will be a shortage of a lot of produce I say this from a place of kindness and compassion: this is the sort of mindset we should avoid. It's understandable to have fear of an unknown situation, but look at the available data. Even in places with large outbreaks, grocery stores have continued delivering all essentials to the population. Ensuring you have some food for the next couple of weeks (not the next couple of months/years) makes sense in case you need to self-isolate. That's about it.
- ma2rten 7y ago
  We have yet to see most of the impact of supply chain disruption from China. That alone is going to impact most businesses. If in addition to that a lot of people in your own country are going to be sick or quarantined, I don't think we can assume things are going to work out the same as before.
  - robjan 7y ago
    How much food is actually imported from China into your country?
    - ma2rten 7y ago
      It's not about food, but about things like parts for machines needed to make that food.
- remote_phone 7y ago
  I say this also from a place of kindness and compassion: you should heed OP’s advice. My sister owns a pharmacy. She has been sold out of many things since end of January and isn’t receiving stock even though she orders it every day. She is starting to run out of canned foods. Her shelves are empty for many things. This is in Toronto, the largest city in Canada. The next step will be complete shut down for 2-4 weeks across the US and Canada in order to “flatten the curve”. Expect that supply chains will be impacted and food will run out not because of lack of actual food but disrupted supply chains and sick workers.
AlexCoventry 7y ago
I'm skeptical that it will work out that way, because the infection tends not to disable people under 50, and I think most of the people involved in supplying groceries are under 50.
- wincy 7y ago
  The average age of truckers in the USA is 55. Not as clear cut as you might think.
  - gorbachev 7y ago
    The labor market for truckers has been absolutely horrible for a few years now. Thousands and thousands of truckers have lost their jobs. We won't run out of truckers in this country any time soon.
    - ashildr 7y ago
      That’s interesting, from work I have some insight into inner european production- and delivery chains. It seems we had a lack of truckers and an older friend who changed professions to become trucker told me, there’s money in it. I’m writing “had” because I’m not so sure about the rest of the year.
kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
A guy in the grocery store 2 days ago was pontificating on the phone about the "dumb liberals" panicking. This was in Bergen Co. NJ. The dog whistle messaging has convinced the idiocracy that they don't have to do anything to prepare.

david-gpu 7y ago

> My take is that in the near term (1-2 months), there will be a shortage of a lot of produce I say this from a place of kindness and compassion: this is the sort of mindset we should avoid. It's understandable to have fear of an unknown situation, but look at the available data. Even in places with large outbreaks, grocery stores have continued delivering all essentials to the population. Ensuring you have some food for the next couple of weeks (not the next couple of months/years) makes sense in case you need to self-isolate. That's about it.

ma2rten 7y ago
We have yet to see most of the impact of supply chain disruption from China. That alone is going to impact most businesses. If in addition to that a lot of people in your own country are going to be sick or quarantined, I don't think we can assume things are going to work out the same as before.
- robjan 7y ago
  How much food is actually imported from China into your country?
  - ma2rten 7y ago
    It's not about food, but about things like parts for machines needed to make that food.
remote_phone 7y ago
I say this also from a place of kindness and compassion: you should heed OP’s advice. My sister owns a pharmacy. She has been sold out of many things since end of January and isn’t receiving stock even though she orders it every day. She is starting to run out of canned foods. Her shelves are empty for many things. This is in Toronto, the largest city in Canada. The next step will be complete shut down for 2-4 weeks across the US and Canada in order to “flatten the curve”. Expect that supply chains will be impacted and food will run out not because of lack of actual food but disrupted supply chains and sick workers.

AlexCoventry 7y ago

I'm skeptical that it will work out that way, because the infection tends not to disable people under 50, and I think most of the people involved in supplying groceries are under 50.

wincy 7y ago
The average age of truckers in the USA is 55. Not as clear cut as you might think.
- gorbachev 7y ago
  The labor market for truckers has been absolutely horrible for a few years now. Thousands and thousands of truckers have lost their jobs. We won't run out of truckers in this country any time soon.
  - ashildr 7y ago
    That’s interesting, from work I have some insight into inner european production- and delivery chains. It seems we had a lack of truckers and an older friend who changed professions to become trucker told me, there’s money in it. I’m writing “had” because I’m not so sure about the rest of the year.

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago

A guy in the grocery store 2 days ago was pontificating on the phone about the "dumb liberals" panicking. This was in Bergen Co. NJ. The dog whistle messaging has convinced the idiocracy that they don't have to do anything to prepare.