Next step is a Presidential address advising people to get ready for a 3-4 week long “snow day”. Lay in dry goods, be prepared to shelter in place IOT reduce the demand on medical services. Dems will scream fear mongering, but it will be looked back on as wise counsel.
Right now this pandemic is like a hurricane hitting the Bahamas and we all live in Florida
I am confident in our medical system. Both our food supply and medical system are more hygienic than China, which is going to help a lot. If we can keep this to a small number of cases, I don't think we will see as many deaths as in China. We can give them excellent care. However, if we don't contain it, and overload our medical system, then the death rates will be about the same as China's.
I am not an extreme prepper, but I have been building up my pantry starting last fall, but more so in the last few weeks. I can ride out the virus at home, and can even work from home. People don't need to go full out zombie prepping. The electricity will stay on, we can cook in our kitchens, etc.
If anyone is stocking up preparing for this, don't forget to not only get food, but to get books or a project around the house you can do while this blows over. If we are trapped in our homes for a while, we might as well do something productive to pass the time.