Hellobee Boards

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My brother is in China. They’ve been on lockdown since January. However they allow one person to leave their apartment at a time to buy groceries.

There have been no shortages in Italy or China and there will not be here. I am so furious at the media for feeding the frenzy and not clearly stating that food will continue to be available. The only reason you need even 2 weeks is if you get sick or have contact with a sick person and are truly quarantined. If people just calmed down, everything would be on shelves. But even with the way it is now, you will be able to get food just maybe not exactly what you want because people are idiots.

@JJ2626: one part you missed is that China is more more totalitarian so the *government* has been *ensuring* food will be available. We don't have the same kind of regulation / top-down control here (nor do I fully want that). Italy is also a small country both in terms of size and population, and can't really be compared to the US (it's less than 1/5 of our population). They also have a more socialist government & economy, so again, the government is very involved in the market.

Both articles behind paywalls, but posting both bc more "liberal" and more "conservative"
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/business/china-coronavirus-food-prices.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-china-fed-its-people-while-under-lockdown-11584009757

Lastly, the global supply chain IS being disrupted due to lack of labor. That's just the fact of the matter.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/13/food-supply-shortage-coronavirus/

@JJ2626: I dunno, our premiere and prime minister have been assuring us we will have enough food and household items but stores are still being wiped out daily (I’m in Ontario Canada) so I don’t necessarily think it’s on the media...though at least to spread the message would help. I think because it’s changing so rapidly every hour, people are afraid the stores will suddenly shut down like they have for air travel, borders, schools, etc.

@catgirl: In our area, the clearing of shelves lasted about 5 days-1 week. Things have really calmed down and now the stores are less crowded and better stocked. The less popular grocery chains and the smaller stores are consistently better stocked than the more popular stores here, so I did shop somewhere this week that I typically avoid (and it was very well stocked). Stores in our area, which now has 11 positive cases, are also closing from 12am-5am or 6am to clean and restock.

@JJ2626: I understand that there won’t be an actual shortage of food. And I understand the reason that the stores are empty is because people are panicking and buying way more than they need. But in the short term that is still frustrating and worrisome when you are just trying to buy food for the next week or so. Social distancing becomes hard when you need to check multiple stores multiple days a week just to find basics. So I don’t think it’s wrong to be thinking about this...

i also also noticed way less clearning of items when I physically went to my local store 3 days ago... although I got an Amazon Now delivery yesterday, and maybe 1/4 of the things I wanted I didn't get (cabbage, carrots, smartwater, raspberries) but no big deal. I'm going to be the designated shopper if we need to go out - we won't have the kids go ever since they can't be trusted not to touch everything and then rub their hands all of their face.... When I went out the other day I brought my own bags, put the items i wanted into that bag instead of using a cart or basket, didn't touch my face, got home and washed thoroughly. Seems like it should be OK? I'm going to try to do delivery when I can. If any of us get sick at all, then we won't venture out at all. Local friends could always deliver for us and I can pay them back.