You make excellent points. This is what I worry about, not some virus.

Bingo! We routinely have 20,000 to 80,000 US flu related deaths a year with much of the US population getting the vaccine. This is a new virus that the experts say is more contiguous and with a higher death rate. And no vaccine. Do the math and the number of deaths could be off the charts. Some are asking why the big fuss with this virus when we have flu ever year or compare it the previous swine flu. The answer is that all viruses are different and this one is way more dangerous.

No excuse for hoarding basic supplies but let’s focus on what’s important here and follow the health guidelines.

My neighbor was in Winn Dixie a couple nights ago. Gentleman in front of her only had two loaves of bread---nothing else. Checker told him he could only buy one loaf. A friend shops Winn Dixie ---says every time she goes to store they have what she is looking for. She might be just lucky always getting there when shelves are stocked or maybe their limiting items made the difference. Husband was in Publix- saw a woman with at least 13 steaks in her cart. I, myself, don't have a freezer that would hold that much meat but maybe she was shopping for others-would like to think this was the case.

Sadly no.
 

You aren't the only one but it would be better if you were. This is real, it isn't government or media hype. If you don't believe me look at Italy and Iran. Also, listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a national treasure for the USA who should get the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his incredible communication about Covid-19. If the President had taken this seriously in January and February instead of not "seeing the light" until the middle of March, the US would be in a much better situation. By the way, Bill Gates predicted a scenario like Covid-19 (not the "Chinese virus) in a TED talk on April 3rd, 2015.

The guidelines to socil distance, not congregate and follow handwashing prodedures are musts to help flatten the curve so as not overwhelm the healthcare systems for the next weeks to come but what then? Do our healthcare experts believe the virus will dissapate, mutate into a less virlent form or what? Are we locking down, putting vast swaths of our economy out of business to give us time to build more hospital beds, masks, gowns and ventilators? If there isn’t a solid rational plan at the highest levels to use this time of intense economic disruption to come out the other side of the lock downs and closures with an orderly retoration of economis activity and get people back to work then it’s all for nothing. The virus isn’t going away in the next few months. The reality of a second round of infections once this initial lockdown is over will likely happen. The numbers of deaths from the 1918 pandemic peaked in the second wave which happened in October and November of 1918 was much greater than the first wave in the spring. The intersting aspect of the 1918 flu was it attacked the young with good immune systems and not the older poputation, just the opposite of covid virus. Perhaps the prudent plan is to allow our services industries to start back up slowly in April, the under 60 population to get back to work and we older folks stay put as best we can and hope for a vacine. I don’t know. This epidemic/pandemic will end one way or the other probably by late fall in the meantime the economic Tsunami might be worse than the covid earthquake. I am hoping our leaders in business, goverment and healthcare come together with a prudent sensible plan to lead us forward. So many unknowns and that makes us fearful. Full disclouse, My wife and I are not living in the Villages but have spent and month or more in TV for the past four years and love it and the people. We have many friends retired there. Just my two cents hopefully we will be back next year. Good luck and health.

Dr Fauci won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008

Just read on line any or all of the most reputable news that is out there . This is very real and is not going away any time soon. Physically isolate.

I agree that this is out of control and over the top.

I had plenty of guns and ammo before this ever started. TP was a little short in supply. I told my wife if we run out of TP then a good old rear end wash with the garden hose will suffice.

I initially felt like you, OP, but a few things changed my mind:

1. People hoard because they want to limit their visits to stores to reduce their chances of exposure (although I agree that's no excuse for a shopping cart overflowing with toilet paper, Purell, gloves and other supplies and depriving those who really need them).

2. Yes, there are more cases of the flu every year, but does the flu cause countries to run out of hospital beds and ventilators?

3. So what if the safeguards and precautions are overkill? If the guidelines are more than what's needed but cause this thing to pass sooner, so much the better. <Edit: after I submitted this I realized I need to give this more thought. Is the overkill worth taking away people's livelihoods and crashing the stock market? Not sure.>

4. Most important in my mind on the subject of hoarding...it's a psychological response. I'm a bit more compassionate about those people now that I know that it's a reaction to having lost control. When people feel like something is out of their control, they do something, anything, to make them feel like they're regaining some control over their lives. Remember after 9/11, about half or more of the cars on the road had American flags installed in little cups on their windows? Same thing.

Thanks for the correction, I seem to have temporarily lost the ability to do math ;)

Ridiculous is one word for this BS.
 

In the villages you can congregate on the golf greens and pickle ball courts but not in chlorinated pool water. This makes no sense. Oh and let's not forget the packed full of people in restraunts until just a few days ago. The villages owners and management are ridiculous for a better word for them.

To those who believe this is all a hoax and ‘manipulated - Reread your posts in a month or six weeks from now and you will be eating humble-pie....please take this seriously - for the rest of us OUR health depends on your reaction unfortunately.

Check your math… You are overstating this by your own assumptions. Drives me crazy when people make irresponsible posts.

Totally agree with you, not buying in to this.