As the new coronavirus spreads globally, so, too, do fears that the outbreak will turn into an uncontrollable pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned U.S. citizens this week to prepare for the worst-case scenario, even as health officials announced that the development for a vaccine is ahead of schedule. Preparation, prevention, and cautious optimism should be the priority, health officials have explained. Men, for example, should consider shaving facial hair, the CDC said, as certain styles can interfere with facepiece respirators — if those become necessary.
The medical face masks aren’t currently needed unless you are already ill, health officials decided. Even so, protective gear is in high demand, a fact that hasn’t been lost on entrepreneurs looking to make a quick buck. One group, called FaceIDMasks.com, will print your face on N95 masks so you can still use Face ID to unlock your smartphone. When asked if this product is a joke, the website states, “Yes. No. We’re not sure.”
Other survival gear companies have been thriving too. A growing number of U.S. consumers are buying gas masks and hazmat suits, and some are even investing in $20,000 underground bunkers for that just-in-case doomsday scenario. Roman Zrazhevskiy, the founder of Mira Safety, said his company’s sales last month surpassed what he made in all of 2019.
Some other preventative tips health officials have offered: Wash your hands (a lot), avoid contact with the sick, and limit travel whenever possible, especially if it’s international.
Some communities, however, have gone one step further. San Francisco’s mayor preemptively declared a state of emergency. Santa Clara and San Diego counties have issued similar declarations in an attempt to bolster preparedness and reassure citizens. How reassuring these emergency statements have been is an entirely different question.
