We are sitting in Hobart and listening to the news regularly, however as Grey Nomads we really do not need to be in a busy city for much longer while this virus threat expands. I suppose the reality of the situation came the other day when I went shopping at Woolworths. In the last few weeks the shops I have been in ( in Northern Tasmania) had everything available, even sanitiser and toilet paper and only a few people were buying products. With only one person in Tasmania with the virus at this stage nobody was worried. We have been hearing stories of toilet paper being sold out and no sanitiser, rice or panadol, and have been watching the arguments on television in Sydney and Melbourne between customers.

The question of when we should stock up is now looming. We were told to stock up for 2 weeks but then others recommended you need to be stocked up for four weeks. Overseas they seem to be locked up for months. I watched a man in Woolworths buy everything from flour, sugar, cans of every sort of vegetable and fish, tissues, soups, my gosh you could not fit another item in his trolley. I thought he must have at least ten children to cook for and going to be locking them up for six months. Then I noticed how many people were doing this big shop, obviously stocking up on cans of food and all sorts of things you do not normally buy. Surprisingly, Woolworths in Hobart had toilet paper, sanitiser, and even a little rice, although the sanitiser was down to the last bottle or two.

So in our caravan, having limited space, we have stocked up our freezer with items that do not take up a lot of room such as chicken breasts, steak, mince, (bait) and we have removed all boxing and packaging and replaced it with plastic freezer bags so we have more room. We have bought some noodles and rice so we can mix vegetables and protein into stir fries and have lots of bottled water and coffee and tea. We have some baked beans, fruit and fish in cans and a number of noodle flavoured mixes. I went to buy surprise peas and one tiny packet was six dollars, so I bought frozen peas instead. As we have to watch our caravan weight canned food is not a priority and we certainly could not fit packets and packets of toilet paper.

The only contact we have with people is when we use the caravan park toilets, buy petrol, or go shopping. We have now got Disinfectant Wipes in the car and in the Caravan, bottles of Hand Sanitiser and hand wash in the caravan. We wear disposable gloves when shopping or at the toilet in the caravan park, tissues in case we get sick, disinfectant to wipe down the caravan, and loads of disposable hand towels to wipe hands on. We had P2 masks (we bought from Bunnings in preparation for bushfire smoke), so they are sitting in the car in the packet. I am now refusing to go to cafe’s and drink out of other peoples washed cups. Actually when my sister contacted this week I gave her a choice of her home or my caravan for a meet up.

We have been to the Pharmacy to get our scripts made up and that was everything we are allowed to have made up (they restrict some scripts). We bought panadol, and cold and flu tablets, not that we think that will do anything. We also bought some cold preventative medications and cold elixir. So are we panicking? I would say preparation does not hurt. Now we have to try and get flu vaccinations as recommended but are not familiar with any doctors surgeries in the region and I believe the flu vaccinations are not available for another few weeks.

When listening to the news we were told to expect the virus to be at its worst in Australia in May, however experts are talking of a second wave or even a yearly wave of the virus. So where do we go from here? Is anyone doing anything differently? Next week we are headed south from Hobart which is probably not good, as the virus is worse in cold weather and Southport is freezing. It is really a wait and see what happens, but with the risk of casual workers attending work once they get the virus (otherwise they have no money) I do not feel it will be not long before it is spread.

So to all the Grey Nomads out there..we are in the risk category. Do not leave your preparations til it is too late. If you have a chronic illness like diabetes or lung disease make sure you keeping your distance from others who may be infected, and washing hands very regularly and not touching your face. I knew it would take a few days to get into the pattern of continually washing hands and wearing gloves… now it is a question of when and if to wear the masks. Remember, stay out of the way, get some exercise and eat well, and stay safe and healthy, but close enough so that you can get help if needed.