The World Health Organization warned that the Wuhan coronavirus — now named COVID-19 — could infect more than 60 percent of the world’s population. With a mortality rate estimated at two percent, the virus could leave more than 150 million people dead in its wake.
Keep to Yourself
Singapore is one of the busiest cities in the world — especially when it comes to air travel. The country is a hub for both business and leisure travel with flights arriving and taking off almost every minute. Getting unknowingly infected is a possibility — but you can minimize its chances by avoiding places frequented by a lot of people. COVID-19 has an effective transmission range of 3 feet — barring sudden sneezing or coughing which send viruses through the air for longer distances. Spend your weekends at home watching movies or reading a book. Ditch the theaters and watch movies safely through various streaming services. Bookstores are a no-no — with so many people touching books, you’re better off buying books online in Singapore, Hong Kong or wherever there’s a lot of tourist traffic. Stocks of masks have run out and expect the same to happen to food if the situation worsens. Try to get your hands on emergency food rations while they’re still shipping. Some of these rations last 20-25 years so they won’t be a waste if nothing untoward happens. 2-4 weeks supply should be enough — needing more than that would mean a cataclysmic event hit he country and food won’t be the only problem you’ll be facing.
Stay Healthy
At its core, COVID-19 is still just a pumped-up version of the flu. Unless you’re terribly weak or have pre-existing conditions, the virus shouldn’t be life-threatening. Eat healthily and get lots of rest to boost your immunity. You probably won’t be able to avoid contact with people during the weekdays — so just make sure your body can handle infections better. Most fatalities brought about by COVID-19 are due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, usually in individuals over the age of 60. Like flu, rest and hydration are usually enough to treat most cases — with only the most severe cases requiring medication. Vaccines are mere months away, so just endure a little more and you’ll be relatively safe.
Don’t Underreact
It might just be a stronger strain of flu — but it’s better to overreact than be caught lacking. Keep your distance from people (at least 3 feet) — especially if they’re not wearing a mask. COVID-19 can travel through the air by clinging to microscopic bits of saliva and then enter another person’s mouth, nose, or eyes infecting them. Wearing a mask won’t be as effective in prevention — unless infected people are the ones wearing them. Stock up on canned food for the meantime (enough for a week or two). If nothing happens, then you would have just spent a few extra dollars on food — but if the situation turns into something close to Wuhan’s, then the extra food ensures your survival.
As the WHO judges as COVID-19 as a possible pandemic, it is only prudent to take measures to keep yourself safe and ensure your survival if the worst comes to pass. Limit your contact with people and try to amass supplies for at least 2-4 weeks.