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sinkingfeeling

(51,460 posts) Wed Jan 29, 2020, 02:09 PM Jan 2020

Just left Walgreens. There were two Chinese women with babies

ahead of me at the checkout. They purchased 15 boxes of face masks (all that were on the shelves).
I live in the middle of no where. Should I be worried?

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Just left Walgreens. There were two Chinese women with babies (Original Post) sinkingfeeling Jan 2020 OP

They might be sending them to family living in China Siwsan Jan 2020 #1

No, people are overreacting to this. redstatebluegirl Jan 2020 #2

This isn't an overreaction. Turin_C3PO Jan 2020 #7

I agree with what the authorities are doing what is nuts is redstatebluegirl Jan 2020 #10

Agreed. Turin_C3PO Jan 2020 #11

61,000 people died in the US from the flu in 2017-2018 Major Nikon Jan 2020 #14

I read that Seattle was selling out too. Maybe they have family in China and are frightened. 58Sunliner Jan 2020 #3

most certainly. run home, lock your doors stopdiggin Jan 2020 #4

Better safe than sorry. abqtommy Jan 2020 #5

I've noticed that Asians, both here in Boston and in news footage from Asia, LAS14 Jan 2020 #6

In China it's often because of polluted air. My Chinese friend and her kids wear masks when outside tblue37 Jan 2020 #8

On some days the pollution looks like fog Major Nikon Jan 2020 #15

People on Chinese Social Media (WeChat) NewJeffCT Jan 2020 #9

It's regular practice in Japan. nt miyazaki Jan 2020 #12

I always have masks on hand. Dem2theMax Jan 2020 #13

The regular surgical face masks aren't nearly as protective as.. Laffy Kat Jan 2020 #16

Siwsan

(26,268 posts)

1. They might be sending them to family living in China

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 02:11 PM

Jan 2020

redstatebluegirl

(12,265 posts)

2. No, people are overreacting to this.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 02:13 PM

Jan 2020

My guess is they were buying them to send to family in China.

Turin_C3PO

(14,004 posts)

7. This isn't an overreaction.

Reply to redstatebluegirl (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 03:42 PM

Jan 2020

This is a very serious respiratory virus with pandemic potential. It’s good all the precautions authorities are taking.

redstatebluegirl

(12,265 posts)

10. I agree with what the authorities are doing what is nuts is

Reply to Turin_C3PO (Reply #7)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 04:18 PM

Jan 2020

all of the people running out to get masks, and flu medicine and hand sanitizer that won't help anything. They need to wash their hands, avoid large crowds if they have a compromised immune system.

A lady at walgreens yesterday told the clerk she left the grocery store yesterday when a "Chinese group" came in. Good grief, that is just crazy.

I don't think this will be pandemic but yes, it is possible.

Turin_C3PO

(14,004 posts)

11. Agreed.

Reply to redstatebluegirl (Reply #10)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 04:18 PM

Jan 2020

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

14. 61,000 people died in the US from the flu in 2017-2018

Reply to Turin_C3PO (Reply #7)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 10:32 AM

Jan 2020

So if this isn’t an overreaction it seems there’s an under-reaction to the greater threat.

58Sunliner

(4,386 posts)

3. I read that Seattle was selling out too. Maybe they have family in China and are frightened.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 02:19 PM

Jan 2020

I would definitely follow the CDC and see where confirmed cases are.The issue as I see it is the criteria that China has been using to classify the numbers of infected people and deaths, I assume, by extension. The WHO wants China to use a different set of criteria, because testing kits are limited, and a true picture is not available of infection rates. So the same would go for transmission rates, by extension. Are you a Costco member? Probably cheaper. Or Amazon.

stopdiggin

(11,317 posts)

4. most certainly. run home, lock your doors

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 02:43 PM

Jan 2020

and have all your food deliveries left on the front porch until further notice. do it now.

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)

5. Better safe than sorry.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 03:22 PM

Jan 2020

LAS14

(13,783 posts)

6. I've noticed that Asians, both here in Boston and in news footage from Asia,

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 03:31 PM

Jan 2020

are much more likely to wear face masks even when there is no health scare. Probably to keep from spreading their own colds?? I'm not sure this is true of all Asians. Definitely Chinese.

tblue37

(65,404 posts)

8. In China it's often because of polluted air. My Chinese friend and her kids wear masks when outside

Reply to LAS14 (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 03:48 PM

Jan 2020

in Beijing during their visits to family in China.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

15. On some days the pollution looks like fog

Reply to tblue37 (Reply #8)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 10:34 AM

Jan 2020

It’s incredibly bad.

NewJeffCT

(56,828 posts)

9. People on Chinese Social Media (WeChat)

Reply to LAS14 (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 03:49 PM

Jan 2020

seem to be overly terrified. Chinese New Year's events in Connecticut were almost universally cancelled this past weekend.

miyazaki

(2,244 posts)

12. It's regular practice in Japan. nt

Reply to LAS14 (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 07:55 PM

Jan 2020

Dem2theMax

(9,651 posts)

13. I always have masks on hand.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:10 AM

Jan 2020

They are in my car, and they hang from my front and back doors in my house. I live in a fire prone area. Masks are survival tools where I live. Almost had to put one on today. A house in our neighborhood caught fire, and we were having Santa Ana winds today. Bad timing.

Oh, and I clean out a lot of cat litter boxes. A mask is a must-have if you have to do that job every day. Kitty litter is bad for the lungs.

Laffy Kat

(16,383 posts)

16. The regular surgical face masks aren't nearly as protective as..

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:45 AM

Jan 2020

N-95 respirators. Just, FYI.

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