You don’t see many people – normal people, anyway – prepping for an impact from a comet or meteor like what killed the dinosaurs.
Why? Because stupid Hollywood movies aside, the odds of that happening anytime soon are infinitesimally small. There are a lot of things out there that are much more likely to kill you.
Coronavirus, pardon the pun, is nothing to sneeze at. The U.S. and other nations wouldn’t seal off their borders to visitors from China on a goof. The World Health Organization wouldn’t declare a global emergency because it was bored. You need to be keeping an eye on the news for the latest developments.
However, let’s put the coronavirus threat in perspective with simple math.
By the numbers
259 – As of Saturday morning, the number of reported coronavirus deaths in China.
10,000 – As of Friday, Jan. 30, the number of Americans who have died from regular influenza.
11,800 – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China.
19 million – As of Friday, Jan. 30, the number of Americans who have caught regular influenza.
In short, do you want to follow coronavirus developments? Absolutely. But regardless of whether you’re into preparedness, or whether you think preppers are nuts and you just want to read my upcoming novel, being ready for every cold and flu season, and washing your hands regularly, should just be a matter of common sense.
Remember what I wrote earlier on this subject – be prepared, but don’t panic, because it’s the panicked who do, and buy, stupid stuff.