New coronavirus in/from China

[clv101]

When I've put this sort of advice up before I have had criticism along the lines of "What about people who can't afford to do that?" I don't know what that has got to do with the people who can afford it but maybe they should buy a little more to give away.

This is key, the prepper's problem is less likely to be their own insufficient preparations but those of their neighbours. Individualistic 'prepping' is only a small part of any strategy for armageddon. Modest improvements in a community's preparedness are more useful then significant improvements in an individual's preparedness (which count for ~zero when the 50 of your hungry/angry neighbours at the door).

[mikepepler]

Indeed. Local relationships are crucial to surviving any difficult times, and buying up stocks in advance then being prepared to share them can be part of that.

[clv101]

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-51364382
The Chinese doctor who tried to warn others about coronavirus

34 years old, good medical care ~4 weeks to death.

[mikepepler]

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-51364382
The Chinese doctor who tried to warn others about coronavirus

34 years old, good medical care ~4 weeks to death.

That's really sad, after the good he tried to do.

[UndercoverElephant]

Western governments might be more switched on but would they have the capacity and authority to build a thousand bed hospital within two weeks? I would like to see that done here but I doubt it would, somehow!

They wouldn't build a hospital. They would take over some other existing buildings.

[mikepepler]

Third UK case isn't far from me, it's in Brighton. The story also notes that they caught it somewhere other than China, and says:

doctors will now test for suspected coronavirus in patients who have recently travelled from a range of Asian countries, which will be specified later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51398039

[Little John]

f***ing great. Son number two is currently on contract in Brighton.

So, to summarise:

Wife - lives and works in York during the week - Location of corona virus infection

Son number 1 - works and lives in Newcastle - location of Corona virus patient/s

Son number 2 - currently lives and works in Brighton and is staying at travelodge for duration of his stay at Brighton, which is for another three weeks - site of Corona virus infection/s

You couldn't make this shit up.

[mikepepler]

Not looking good on the cruise ship moored off Japan. According to this article, they've tested 273 people who felt unwell or had had contact with the index case on the ship, and having had 102 results back, 20 are infected! I wonder if it's circulating through the ventilation system? I'd have hoped they'd have thought of that though...
https://www.theguardian.com/global-deve ... -off-japan

Sorry to hear about your family locations Little John, though I expect there are undiscovered mild cases all over the place so it may not make much difference.

[Mean Mr Mustard II]

You couldn't make this shit up.

Maybe they really are out to get you.

[Little John]

You couldn't make this shit up.

Maybe they really are out to get you.

[UndercoverElephant]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinese- ... 44988.html

Global commodity trade plunged deeper into chaos as Chinese companies started walking away from purchase contracts because of the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

A Chinese buyer of liquefied natural gas and a copper importer declared what’s known as force majeure -- meaning they are reneging on deals as the virus constrains their ability to take deliveries. The cancellations are among the first known cases of the legal clause being invoked in commodity contracts due to the epidemic.

“Everything that we were afraid of, from trade wars or global growth, doesn’t compare,� said Jan Stuart, global energy economist at Cornerstone Macro. “This virus is an entirely different risk, especially in commodities where China’s role dominates.�

China is the world’s biggest consumer of most raw materials, from energy products to industrial metals, and disruptions in its purchases create havoc across global supply chains. Now, while global markets bounce back from initial fears over the impact of the virus, the fallout in commodity trade is only worsening as Beijing keeps swathes of the country under lockdown and restricts travel.

When God Appears in Contracts, That’s ‘Force Majeure’: QuickTake

In a dramatic and rare step, China National Offshore Oil Corp., the nation’s biggest LNG buyer, invoked force majeure and told some suppliers it won’t take delivery of cargoes because of constraints caused by the coronavirus. French oil and gas giant Total SA rejected the declaration.

Hours later, it emerged that Chinese copper smelter Guangxi Nanguo had also declared the same get-out clause, refusing to take delivery of raw materials.

Meanwhile, copper buyers are requesting Chilean miners postpone shipments because of port shutdowns while China’s biggest oil refiner, Sinopec Group, is likely to ask Saudi Arabia to reduce crude supplies next month. Soybeans from Brazil and the U.S. are being held up on arrival in eastern China and Indonesian palm oil shipments are also being delayed.

“We are truly concerned about the loss of buying power that has spread across every division of commodities,� said Pete Thomas, a senior vice president at Chicago-based broker Zaner Group. “The impact has been much larger than everyone even realizes it would be.�

[continues]

Perhaps this is how the monetary collapse that started in 2008 ends. They can't fix this by printing electronic money and lowering interest rates.

[clv101]

Underlines how the 'factory of the world' is closed for business. Shipments aren't going out this week, and next month's products aren't being made. Supply chains will be broken for months if not longer.

[PS_RalphW]

Looks like we are heading for massive deflation as buyers dry up for commodities, but finished goods become scarce and expensive due to factory shutdowns. This could well trigger financial collapse as debt goes bad and the banks become insolvent. Of course they will be too big to fail and will be bailed out by governments as in 2008, privatising the profits, socialising the losses. The poor will get poorer, the rich richer. Neoliberal or disaster capitalism, take your pick. The government pledges to spend on the North, or to drive a good trade deal with EU or US will be 'overtaken by events' and we will find ourselves vastly worse off.

Large numbers of the old and sick will die, either of the virus, or through the collapse of the NHS. This will sharply improve the demographic time bomb for those who survive, enabling tax cuts for the rich to boost the 'economic recovery' All green pledges will be sacrificed to the god of the economy.

Sleep well!

[adam2]

I am glad that I stocked up years ago, not just with doom specific items but everyday household items, clothing, shoes, bed linen and the like.

[adam2]

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-51364382
The Chinese doctor who tried to warn others about coronavirus

34 years old, good medical care ~4 weeks to death.

Later reports stated that the unfortunate doctor was still alive, though seriously ill.
The most recent reports, at about midnight UK time, confirm that he has passed away.

Very sad. (yes I know that most deaths are sad, but the loss of those who die helping others is more keenly felt)