Hey Roar, I respectfully suggest a highly sceptical view of this. It is most likely an example of lurid conspiracy fiction.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/china-coronavirus-online-chatter-conspiracy-1.5442376

I’ve read a more optimistic estimate of the death rate from the Wuhan Coronavirus, as being a bit worse than seasonal flu. Let’s hope the more optimistic estimate is accurate.

I don't have any secret information but from what I've read and heard from qualified and non-sensationalist sources this virus has a lower mortality rate than most flu strains. Plus is seems that the majority of deaths are in groups that are immunocompromised, especially the elderly. This is in stark contrast to some flu strains that kill a disproportionate amount of healthy young folks.

12 hours later.

4,474 infected, 107 dead, 63 recovered
107/170 is 63%.


I'm not convinced it's just slight worse than the flu. CDC estimates 35 million people in the US had the flu, with 34,157 deaths in 2018-2019.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

And that's without imposing travel restrictions on 50 million people, building 4 hospitals dedicated to the virus in a fortnight. It's the response and the economic damage China is prepared to undergo, is causing the worry.

The source of the numbers needs to be considered — politics & business versus health. Don’t know, I doubt this strain of coronavirus is like the common flu. That said, I was out and about yesterday, and there is at least one case of nCoV in Orange County which is right next door. When people start coming down with nCoV who haven’t been to China recently I’ll get more concerned. So far everyone I’ve read about has recently been to Wuhan. No need to panic (yet).

I’m not totally discounting the need to prepare though. Surgical masks selling out across US amid fears over coronavirus I checked and I’ve got half a box of the disposable type Isolation masks (box marked 99% at .1 micron) and a few reusable masks which are more comfortable. I bought them during one of the wildfires here when the air was heavy; few boxes of surgical gloves are also readily available.

Yeah, I read that this morning. Parts of it are still 100% true, for example the scientist, her husband and students were removed from the facility. China does have a bio-weapon program. But the theft of the viruses was denied. I put this in the "probably didn't happen" category but would not rule this out. That why when I posted I emphasized the MAY have wording.

"A German man who tested positive for the strain of coronavirus sweeping across China was infected by a work colleague, officials said on Tuesday, in what is believed to be the first human transmission in Europe."

Okay — Germany Confirms 3 More Coronavirus Cases; Human-To-Human Transmission Suspected — still not a reason to panic. Gather supplies and stay aware.

Agree, no need to panic but gathering supplies and being aware is prudent.
I consider myself fairly well stocked up but have added some extra supplies.
Mainly propane, this fuel is much less used in the UK than in the USA.
Whilst times are normal I don't use any propane, but it is handy for breakdowns and emergencies.
I have purchased another two bottles each of 13 kilos contents. Existing stock was one full bottle and one half full.

I normally cook with electricity, but have a high capacity boiling ring for emergencies. Each 13 kilo cylinder would give about 50 hours operation of one burner.

I normally heat with wood in the main living room and electricity elsewhere, but have a portable propane heater for emergencies. One 13 kilo cylinder will give 50 hours heating.

I am well stocked with non perishable foods, but the main problem would be cooking. I can do limited cooking on the wood burning room heater, but propane is preferable.

A little perspective.

The small city I live in has had 4 deaths from flu so far this month.