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Coronavirus (Covid-19) preparations

by Geoff Hart

Updated 20 April 2020

If you spot an omission, broken Web link, or error, please send me details (ghart@videotron.ca). For errors, provide a credible source. I've added links to some useful reading material at the end of this article.

Goals

I wrote this to help you cope with two problems associated with the Covid-19 outbreak:

The need to minimize exposure to potential sources of infection (example: crowds of sick people at a pharmacy) by reducing how often you need to go shopping. This is particularly important for people older than 60, who have the highest risk; if you're in this age group, consider asking younger friends or family to do your shopping for you.
The possibility of shortages of food, medicine, and other supplies if enough people become sick or unwilling to go to work that it becomes difficult to transport supplies to stores. The current social distancing and self-isolation measures are likely to last a long time. Some experts are now predicting the pandemic will last up to 18 months or until a vaccine is available.

I assumed that if a local virus outbreak occurs, it would be wise to store enough necessities that you can avoid shopping for at least 2 weeks at a time; if the outbreak worsens, plan to store 4 weeks of supplies. I’ve emphasized things you’re probably already buying, not more extreme stuff like freeze-dried hiking foods, but if space is tight and money isn’t, consider that option.

Not goals: This is NOT a “survive the zombie apocalypse after civilization collapses” plan. Thus, no weapons in the list. It is also not a medical primer; I'm not a doctor and don't play one on the Internet. Thus, no lists of specific methods for coping with serious pneumonia.

Note: Store everything in mouse-proof plastic, glass, or metal containers if you have mice or an insect problem (example: ants, roaches).

Note: This advice assumes you’re wealthy enough that you can afford to stockpile food and other supplies. If you’re not, speak to local religious and community groups about gaining access to their food banks.

Note: Discard expired foods and medicines to make room for fresher materials. Put clear expiry dates on everything; masking tape labels plus a permanent marker work well. Plan to consume the older materials first and to replace them with newer materials.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines

If your pharmacy delivers, ask them to deliver supplies so you only have to expose yourself to the driver and whoever packed your goods.
Maintain a 1-month supply of prescriptions and other key things. If you normally stock 1 month, increase that to 2 months if your pharmacist is willing.
Pain killers and fever reducers (ideally acetaminophen = paracetamol).
Caution: It may be wise to avoid ibuprofen and possibly aspirin if you're infected or think you might be. If you take acetaminophen, use less than the maximum dose. High doses can cause serious liver problems.
Multivitamins (if you use them now) plus any supplements you take.
First aid supplies. The Canadian Red Cross offers good guidelines on what to stock. Alternatively, buy a pre-made kit.

Foods that will keep for quite a while

Canned goods are useful because they often contain liquid you can use to cook other foods like rice. If you plan to store canned goods, ensure that you have a reliable can opener, and a spare in case it breaks. If your supermarket delivers, and the outbreak becomes serious in your community, ask for delivery so that you expose yourself to as few people as possible.

Note: Emphasize things you normally eat each week. Before the outbreak becomes serious, replace supplies as you consume them. If the outbreak worsens, plan to restock when you have 1 to 2 weeks of supplies remaining. As you start to run out of supplies, plan a shopping trip so you can replace as many of them as possible in a single trip. Ideally, find a time (e.g., mid-morning) when relatively few people will be at the store.

Note: Most packaged food remains edible for quite some time after the "best before" date; however, anything labeled "discard on [date]" (usually medicines) may be unsafe or ineffective. Ask a pharmacist if you're unsure.

Fruits: dried (example: raisins, cranberries, apples), canned (example: peaches, pineapple), frozen (example: mixtures of berries), fresh (example: apples, lemons)
Vegetables: canned (example: tomato sauce), dried (example: legumes—see below), frozen (example: corn, peas, beans, spinach, mixtures), or fresh (example: onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, turnips, and others that keep for a long time in cold, dry storage)
Legumes: chick peas, various beans, various lentils
Grains: dried rice, quinoa, dried pasta, cereal boxes, flour, oatmeal
Animal protein (if you consume such products): powdered milk, canned fish (tuna, salmon), cheese (which can last a long time if still in its original wrapper)
Oils and fats: olive oil, peanut butter, nuts
Sugar, honey
Spices (including salt): dried are less tasty than fresh, but keep much longer on the shelf
Vinegars
Coffee or tea
Yeast, baking powder, and baking soda, plus appropriate flour (if you bake)
Prepared meals: canned soup, frozen meals. If you cook things like soups and chili, plan to make an extra-large batch so you can freeze some as future meals.

Morale builders

To improve morale, keep a few luxuries:

Alcohol
Chocolate
Potato chips or popcorn

Special needs

Spend a few moments thinking about your special needs. For example, if you have a baby in the house, you'll need diapers and other baby supplies. Stock enough of the necessary supplies that you won't have to go to the store frequently.

Other stuff

Stock at least 1 month of:

Toilet paper and kleenex
Sanitary napkins/tampons
Toothpaste (plus dental floss, toothbrushes, mouthwash)
Soap (which may be more effective than hand sanitizer for Covid-19), shampoo, dish and laundry detergents
Note: Don't use *antibacterial* soap; the coronavirus is not a bacterium, the antibacterial soap is no more effective than regular soap, and the antibacterial additives increase the risk of creating drug-resistant bacteria.
Contact lenses (if disposable) and lens supplies.
Hand sanitizer to carry outside the home. Can't find any? You can make your own, but pay careful attention to the alcohol concentration. For example, the linked recipe uses 99% isopropyl alcohol; if your pharmacy only stocks the 77% concentration, you need to mix 4 volumes of alcohol with 1 volume of aloe vera to obtain a 62% alcohol solution, which is the minimum required to kill the virus.
Caution: Alcohol is highly flammable, so keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers far away from open flames.
Bleach: CDC recommends diluting raw bleach as 1 volume of bleach per 10 to 16 volumes of water for cleaning hard surfaces, including food cans. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners; ALWAYS mix it in a well-ventilated area. After bleaching a surface, rinse it well with water to remove excess bleach.
Alcohol (high-concentration ethanol) can be safer than bleach, but requires at least a 60% concentration (CDC recommendation) to be effective against Covid.
Bottled water: If you have access to safe drinking water, this is most likely to be useful as wash water and toilet water in case you lose access to that water. If you want drinking water, sterilized water (reverse osmosis, distilled, or bleached) water is safest, but isn’t necessary safe after more than a year or two on the shelf (check the expiry date). Tap water may need boiling or treatment with bleach (eight drops of 6% bleach per 1 gallon = per 4 liters).

How much do I need?

Spend several days or one week tracking how much food and other supplies your household consumes each day or week. Multiply that amount by the number of days or weeks of supplies you want to store. For a reality check, keep your grocery store, pharmacy, and other receipts for several weeks, and count up the number of each item you bought.

Hygiene concerns

Masks offer little to no protection unless you purchase an N95-certified mask, which can filter out most virus particles. Wearing an ordinary mask can only reduce the risk that you'll infect someone else by coughing on them. As I was writing this, there was a shortage of masks, and if you buy masks now and don't really need them, you're making it difficult for people who really do need them, such as medical staff and first responders, to get the supplies they need. Please consider waiting a bit longer before you buy masks.

Want to make your own mask to reduce pressure on the supply for medical personnel and first responders? The New York Times offers some good advice. Note that HEPA (high efficiency) filters are too coarse to filter out the covid-19 virus itself, but do a good job of stopping exhaled droplets that contain the virus. To avoid inhaling fibers from the filter, wrap it in cotton or another tightly woven fabric. Also note that any mask must fit tightly around your mouth and nose; if air leaks in around the sides, the mask loses effectiveness. Conversely, you have to be able to breathe, so ensure that the filter material lets enough air pass through it.

The World Health Organization has reported that the virus is present in feces (poop!), which suggests this may be an important way the virus is transferred between people. Unfortunately, many people don't wash their hands carefully or at all after wiping, which means they're likely to transfer the virus and other germs to bathroom surfaces. Thus, be careful in public toilets. For example, grab a handful of toilet paper before you touch the flush handle on the toilet, turn on the water taps, or open the door. Bring hand sanitizer with you, and clean your hands again after you leave the washroom.

Sources

Advice from an epidemiologist: What Really Works to Keep the Coronavirus Away?
Red Cross/CDC on preparation: https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-to-build-a-home-emergency-kit-in-case-of-quarantine
Disinfecting water: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water
Meal advice: What 3 nutritionists recommend for tasty, healthy meals during a quarantine.
NPR Preparation Guide: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/26/809650625/a-guide-how-to-prepare-your-home-for-coronavirus
Scientific American Preparation Guide: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/preparing-for-coronavirus-to-strike-the-u-s/
Advice from Virologist James Robb: https://slippedisc.com/2020/03/some-expert-advice-on-coronavirus/

Other useful information

Safe grocery shopping by Dr. Jeffrey van Wingen

The Tidbits guide to "Take Control of Working at Home Temporarily" (currently free)

Government of Canada guide to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which includes a good guide to preparations

Government of Ontario general advice on planning for an emergency

Canada's CBC news team has put together a collection of useful reading: