The fair number of epidemic/pandemic scares we've had over the past 2 decades leaves me very... cynical. Maybe that's the wrong word. Let's say it reinforces the fact that no matter how well plans are crafted & table topped, 1 key factor always cocks things yup... human behaviour. I'd like to see more planning & exercises that factor in basic human idiocy & that's 1 trait humanity isn't lacking.
Any country hit will suffer slightly differing iterations of the same behaviour - an attempt to control information - which invariably leads to more frightened people not thinking rationally. Areas, presumably smaller, rural areas that take matters into their own hands & keep everyone out will be pointed at by media & sneered at... until years later when someone pointedly notes most or all there were spared.
Just In Time inventory - that if nothing else, should encourage people to stock up on the basic they need. We're only a few generations past when that was simply seen as sensible & not fringe. We're seeing this hit cities now in China - or would see it more openly if China was more open with media. Enough is leaking out to put 2 & 2 together.
Snake oil salesmen are coming out of the woodwork... everywhere. What is it about some people that they feel a need to seek the exotic, the weird? Maybe the ritualization of some... "remedies" gives them more mojo in some peoples' eyes.
We should know by now that information about spread, epidemic curves, cures, deaths & complications always lags real time as things have to be reported up the chain but fer Gawd's sake... give us the truth; even if that truth is: "We don't know but we're working our asses off to find out." I find that level of honesty way more trustworthy.
Enough maundering - what I'm waiting to find out is, if as in SARS, we'll see cases of super spreaders. That can freally screw up containment attempts if a case that later turns out to be one, isn't properly isolated. Also waiting for hard number on how many health care workers are affected.
Sadly, by the time we get any of that from China, this will be going at full speed.