Why is everyone being 'Silly' and panic buying??
There isn't a reason to be over excessive and buying 20 odd packs of toilet paper, meat, and other crazy stuff!
I mean, I bet half of the people that are doing this already have a shit load of meat, etc in their freezer and bulk shit paper in their cupboards.
There is no need to panic! Just relax and take a chill pill people.
As for Darwin, there has not been any reported cases of a death caused by the CoronaVirus...
The panic has just gone unbelievably overbored, just wash your damn hands, stop being selfish and excessive... It's pretty simple really.
In saying that though, the Government has said to have a minimum of 2 weeks food at hand (could possibly be up to 6 weeks as per the health organisation recommendation in the recent updates). The bigger the family the more they need. I have a couple of friends here with very big families, 1 family has 11 people under the same roof and another has 16 under the same roof.
Then there are people who live country/isolated who only shop every 2 or 3 months. Some with big families and/or staff etc on farms etc.
Those buying fresh veges and fruit will freeze a lot (I used to do that when I bulk shopped when I lived in the country in WA). PIckling is also common. Alot of fruit would be stewed and frozen. There is also the dehydration methods for fruit and veg too.
You personally won't have to worry as I gave you a decent amount of food (which has approx a 20 year life) for your cyclone kit unless you need to quarantine for more than 2 weeks.
Sadly the panic buying that some are doing is a reaction to being frightened and in their sub-conscious they can make sure they have a heap of things to survive.
The toilet paper thing is slightly odd, though diarrhea has happened to many who have the virus. I do believe the whole toilet paper thing does stem from a rumour that China were the biggest suppliers in Australia (which is not true), so many started hoarding. Then others have needed to purchase some and there was none, so when the shelves restocked they bulk buyed,,then the domino effect kicked in.
I am glad the elderly and disabled are being given a chance to shop for an hour in the mornings. I also know Meals On Wheels is distributing toilet paper, soap and hand sanitizer.
The hand sanitizer is weird too as soap and water is recommended more so by health professionals.
Too bad if the power goes out for over a day.
Many people do have generators and they are presently selling like hot cakes for that exact reason, to keep fridges and freezers going.