Cororavirus, and TP

To all the folks who are cleaning out the stores of supplies:

The coronavirus is a marathon, not a sprint. You can't buy enough food, bottled water, and toilet paper to outlast it. The virus will likely circulate in society for a few months, minimum, maybe years, and probably won't end finally until there is a vaccine and at least 60% of the population has either gotten vaccinated or caught the disease.

This is a game of patience. My worry is that people will overdo this self-quarantine thing, and after a month or so lose discipline and start going out and doing the regular thing again. Then the disease will come back, worse than ever.

If you take off sprinting in a long race, you get tired and don't reach your goal.

Just use common sense. If you are sick, stay away from people. Don't go to large gatherings. Don't travel unless there is a real need. And most importantly, be careful when visiting the elderly and chronically ill. Don't get too close when you visit. But don't forget them either.

Minimize your risk, but don't think you can eliminate the risk. No one can reduce their risk to zero without living in a sterile room.

This is a long haul, folks. I saw my first flu case in November, and saw two more a week ago. That's four months for the flu season. There is no reason to think coronavirus couldn't hang around that long.

So stop raiding the grocery store. Read up on precautions, and be sensible. And stop with the toilet paper. You look stupid doing that.

Thanks,
Your Friendly Neighborhood General Internist.