COVID-19 U.S. Supermarkets Prepare for Surge in Demand-GLOBAL Fatalities
March 1, 2020
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
― Benjamin Franklin
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. - Proverbs 22:3
See links to previous COVID-19 Blogs/Podcasts:
I don't believe the US and world stock markets are over reacting to the covid19 disease/virus. Everything about COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is questionable and there's no word on if or what it may mutate into. Plus, we have no idea in general society if this is a Chinese test, and it all looks like a brilliant test, on how to spread a bio-warfare product in the future. We simply can only keep tabs on everything possible, hope and pray, that cool heads prevail. Just look at European fatalities far exceeding the U.S.'s by far. Only one fatality so far in the U.S., but many more combined, globally:
From Deutsche Welle (DW) Coronavirus: France announces first COVID-19 death in Europe
The French health minister has reported the first death from COVID-19 in Europe. It is thought to be the first death from the virus outside of Asia. ...
First COVID-19 Deaths in US, Australia; Largest Spike in Infections in Iran
Caracas,
LATIN AMERICAN Herald Tribune
Sunday
March 1,2020
WASHINGTON – The United States and Australia both confirmed their first deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday.
In other coronavirus news around the world:
CHINA: Chinese health authorities have confirmed 753 new cases and 35 deaths by midnight on Saturday. China, where the coronavirus originated, has 79,824 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2,870 deaths and 41,825 who have recovered from the disease.
NORTH KOREA: State-run newspaper Rodong reported on Sunday that 2,420 people in South Pyongan province and 1,500 in Gangwon province have been placed under medical surveillance. This is in addition to the 3,000 people who have been under observation since the beginning of the week in North Pyongan province.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korea confirmed on Sunday 586 more cases of the novel coronavirus with a total 3,736 infections and 18 deaths. Among the most recent cases is that of a one-month-old newborn, the youngest infected person in the country. The baby tested positive after his father – a follower of the Christian Shincheonji sect – came into contact with the pathogen.
THAILAND: The Health Ministry reported the death of a 35-year-old man infected with both COVID-19 and dengue. The patient had already recovered from the coronavirus but remained hospitalized because the treatment had weakened his body. Authorities have yet to confirm whether this was the first coronavirus death in Thailand.
GERMANY: Germany has reported infections in the country have risen to 66 and reached nine of the 16 federated states. Health Minister Host Seehofer said that the closure of entire regions was a scenario that would be adopted only “in the extreme.” So far, all reported cases have been mild or asymptomatic. Images of empty supermarket shelves have been doing the rounds on social media as Germans panic shop to stock up their pantries.
IRAN: A further 11 people have died in Iran where the total number of deaths stands at 54. Authorities said 978 people had contracted the disease. Health Ministry Spokesman Kianush Yahanpur reported 385 new infections in the last 24 hours, the biggest spike since data collection started in Iran. The deadly disease appears to have spread across most of the country with 27 of 31 provinces registering positive cases of coronavirus. Tehran continues to be the hotspot for the virus where 350 infections have been confirmed.
FRANCE: The Louvre Museum in Paris remained closed on Sunday as a precaution over the spread of the novel virus with France reporting 100 infections. The French government on Saturday banned large gatherings in closed spaces of over 5,000 people.
ITALY: Italy will allocate 3.6 billion euros towards as part of a set of measures aimed at reducing the negative impact of coronavirus on the economy. Finance minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Sunday the proposal was aimed at helping businesses that had been affected by the outbreak which so far has struck the north primarily. According to the latest Civil Protection figures, there were 1,049 infections, 29 deaths and 50 recovered patients.
SPAIN: Spain has 76 coronavirus infections, with four new infections confirmed Sunday. Nine of the infected persons were of unknown origin, meaning it was unclear how they had contracted the virus.
LUXEMBOURG: The tiny European country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany recorded its first infection after a man in his forties tested positive for COVID-19. The patient had travelled to Italy and returned to Luxembourg via the Belgian Charleroi airport.
Grocers Prepare for Surge in Demand as Coronavirus Spreads Jaewon Kang 4 hrs ago
COVID-19 Supermarkets are preparing for a surge in demand
and shoppers are stocking up on staple foods and cleaning supplies as more cases of the new coronavirus appear in the U.S.
For weeks, as the outbreak advanced mainly in China, food retailers focused on maintaining supplies of products they procure from Asia such as tuna, mandarin oranges and garlic.
Their attention shifted this week as cases multiplied from South Korea to Iran and as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of a potential pandemic. Health officials in Washington state on Saturday reported the first death of someone who had tested positive for the coronavirus in the U.S., one of some 60 confirmed cases centered on the West Coast.
Now grocers are working to prevent shortages and preparing for a spike in demand for disinfectants and long-lasting items such as pasta and canned food. Some are ramping up orders from suppliers.
“This is like a natural disaster, but it’s an illness,” said Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations at FMI, a trade group for food retailers.
Raley’s Supermarkets, which operates about 120 stores in Northern California, said it is working to increase the availability of hand sanitizer, tissue, disinfectants and other cleaning and hygiene products. The chain said it is in discussions with suppliers to ensure the availability of these products. A spokeswoman said Raley’s hasn’t experienced shortages of any foods it sells.
Another California chain, Smart & Final Stores Inc., said it is taking directions on how to respond to the epidemic from CDC and trade groups. Meijer Inc., a Midwestern chain of more than 200 stores, said it is focused on maintaining stock in sanitizers and antibacterial wipes. Discount grocer Save A Lot said it is working with suppliers to prevent potential disruptions to its supply chain.
Chris Glushko, a 45-year-old marketing professional in Denver, went to his local Target Corp. store with his wife on Thursday to stock up on food. The couple spent about $250 on canned soup, pasta, granola bars and other dry foods to last them roughly two weeks. They also purchased over-the-counter cold medicine and a bag of dried dog food. Mr. Glushko said he saw other shoppers buying up similar goods and didn’t notice a shortage of anything except hand sanitizer on shelves.
“We’re not panicked in the least,” Mr. Glushko said. “We just want to be ahead of the curve.”
Write to Jaewon Kang at jaewon.kang@wsj.com
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