Asia Disney Parks closed due to Coronavirus (SHDL, HKDL, TDL)

[QueenElinor]

They said that they are also talking with some NGO's so to get more doctors and nurses in. I'm truly quite amazed at how much staff this situation is requiring.

One thing that was really concerning is the mark up that face masks and medical protective gear companies are putting on these products even at a government level 10 fold the usual price, and they are also really hard to get. I can't believe people doing this at this difficult time!

Price gouging is really nasty. On the other hand, it incentivizes other companies to get in the game, so hopefully the price will come down and the supply will go up quickly. It's a little like developing a vaccine, if the thought of making a bajillion dollars gets companies to race for an effective vaccine, it's worth it.

Here, the problem seems to be ordinary people buying up masks, but do health care systems get them from the hardware store? I think that accusation is a little unfair.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It kind of frightens me that there is a game called Pandemic. Can you win?

Sometimes...but it's never pretty...

 

[Steph15251]

Right, and I saw that UNC put Florida on the travel ban list for employee travel, along with WA, CA and all the foreign countries with outbreaks. But left off NY? I mean, they have FAR more cases, most with community spread. It makes no sense. Why pick on Florida?

Yeah not putting new York on the list makes no sense I live in Florida and we only have 3 cases .

 

[QueenElinor]

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/04/coronavirus-map-us-cases/

 

[NYDisneyKid]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Loss

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Price gouging is really nasty. On the other hand, it incentivizes other companies to get in the game, so hopefully the price will come down and the supply will go up quickly. It's a little like developing a vaccine, if the thought of making a bajillion dollars gets companies to race for an effective vaccine, it's worth it.

Here, the problem seems to be ordinary people buying up masks, but do health care systems get them from the hardware store? I think that accusation is a little unfair.

What he was saying is that before from their usual official suppliers they used to pay 3 euro cent per face mask now the price has increased to 1,4 euro each, protective glasses have gone from 2€each to 5€each alcohol based disinfectants from 2€per 500ml to 5€. Part would be because there is a worldwide demand and part because these companies want to make a higher profit on the situation, which I don't think it's good.

 

[Searc]

FL will not be following the newly revised CDC expanded testing guidelines.

 

[mckennarose]

One thing that was really concerning is the mark up that face masks and medical protective gear companies are putting on these products even at a government level 10 fold the usual price, and they are also really hard to get. I can't believe people doing this at this difficult time!

Here, the problem seems to be ordinary people buying up masks, but do health care systems get them from the hardware store? I think that accusation is a little unfair.

Two notes about this:
I have an immediate family member who is in the medical/dental field. They started having problems getting masks in two weeks ago and a lot were back ordered from China. No masks, no working on patients. One of their office staff got a few boxes through a nail salon distributor. My point is that some health care professionals are resorting to going outside the normal chain to get needed supplies. Now the same is starting with gloves. I saw gloves at Sam's club last week and called her to go grab a few boxes before they sold out. They are still working with their supply chain to get these back ordered items.

Also, same family member had a patient attempt to steal a box of masks in the x ray room this week. They caught him and made him put them back....and also explained those type of masks would do NOTHING to prevent the coronavirus.

I'll also add that my DH works in the Industrial field and they need n95 masks for the workers for production and are now having a hard time getting them. Along with a decrease in raw materials from China.

These type of issues illustrate the beginning of how the public panic buying, combined with the decreased amount of products coming from China, are already starting to impact businesses and the economy.

No masks or gloves - no working on patients - no working.
No N95 masks for production workers or no raw materials - no production - no working.

Even for the areas not currently impacted by the virus, these are other issues that are directly impacting them.

 

[tlmadden73]

So this will just get worse (in the US) before it gets better .. travel is just starting to be affected now, but I would suspect it will go into FULL SWING in the April/May time frame (where people start cancelling trips due to more cases reported in Florida, etc.).

I wonder how Disney will respond? Discount summer resorts even more? Add ticket deals? I cant imagine them every shuttering the parks unless it got seemingly out of control in the Orlando area specifically.

Sadly, this could be a rough time for the tourist industry this Spring and Summer.

I just hope we (as a country) can avoid the panic (like as mentioned above --over buying or stealing masks or other supplies)

 

[jknezek]

So this will just get worse (in the US) before it gets better .. travel is just starting to be affected now, but I would suspect it will go into FULL SWING in the April/May time frame (where people start cancelling trips due to more cases reported in Florida, etc.).

I wonder how Disney will respond? Discount summer resorts even more? Add ticket deals? I cant imagine them every shuttering the parks unless it got seemingly out of control in the Orlando area specifically.

Sadly, this could be a rough time for the tourist industry this Spring and Summer.

I just hope we (as a country) can avoid the panic (like as mentioned above --over buying or stealing masks or other supplies)

too late for this part...

 

[tlmadden73]

too late for this part...

Heh. Seems to be that way in some places -- -I dont think it is WIDESPREAD panic ..yet ..at least in my locale. But the minute a case pops up nearby -- I could see it going nuts.

 

[ksdave]

Since our schools do such a poor job of teaching actual history (I took "social studies" ), here is a little light reading that may be an eye opener for many on how bad these things can get.
Spanish Flu

 

[QueenElinor]

What he was saying is that before from their usual official suppliers they used to pay 3 euro cent per face mask now the price has increased to 1,4 euro each, protective glasses have gone from 2€each to 5€each alcohol based disinfectants from 2€per 500ml to 5€. Part would be because there is a worldwide demand and part because these companies want to make a higher profit on the situation, which I don't think it's good.

But that higher price will lead to more production, especially for simple things like sanitizer, gloves, masks, etc. If the price is high enough, companies NOT making these products now can re-tool and get their piece of the action. I know DuPont is doing that right now. 3M is ramping current production way up, which costs them much more in overtime wages. They're not going to do this out of the kindness of their cold little corporate hearts.

Controlling prices or commandeering the supply is the worse thing to do right now. They tried that in America once when we had a gasoline shortage and it was a disaster. Then we had less gas than before the price controls. It was particularly bad in Hawaii. Companies just quit supplying them altogether.

This is no different than surge pricing on Uber, which people also don't like. But, when surge pricing happens, a lot of idle drivers jump in the game and you have more rides.

Medical supply production will ramp up, the price will come down, and hopefully everyone will get what they need. It'll take a few weeks, but the shortages won't last forever.

I'm not saying what the companies are doing is right- I'm just saying that it's part of how things work, and tinkering with that generally causes more problems than it solves.

Also, same family member had a patient attempt to steal a box of masks in the x ray room this week. They caught him and made him put them back....and also explained those type of masks would do NOTHING to prevent the coronavirus.

I'll also add that my DH works in the Industrial field and they need n95 masks for the workers for production and are now having a hard time getting them. Along with a decrease in raw materials from China.

Wow, stealing masks from HC providers is just vile. Well, stealing them from anyone is.

But I'll confess I'm one of those people who bought masks at the hardware store. Because I knew that my spouse would need them, he's a primary care doctor, 60 y.o., and will be on the front lines. No way was I going to take a chance on that.

A month or two ago, I figured out how bad this could get, I was there when Lowe's opened up at 6 am. It says "not approved for medical use" on the box, but that has to do with fire-resistance, and he doesn't work in an OR.

Is it panic-buying to buy because you know OTHERS are going to panic-buy?

 

[mckennarose]

But that higher price will lead to more production, especially for simple things like sanitizer, gloves, masks, etc. If the price is high enough, companies NOT making these products now can re-tool and get their piece of the action. I know DuPont is doing that right now. 3M is ramping way up, which costs them much more in overtime wages. They're not going to do this out of the kindness of their cold little corporate hearts.

Good point. I should add that one of the facilities in my DH's company is working 24/7 filling orders for....ready for it?..... Vitamin C! There's such a HUGE demand for it right now that even if they can't work on the other wellness products, they can still get the materials for Vitamin C. And it's selling super fast!

Wow, stealing masks from HC providers is just vile. Well, stealing them from anyone is.

I said they need to lock them up or have them in an employee'only area. Along with the gloves, cavicide, alcohol wipes, and any other thing people are panicking over.

But I'll confess I'm one of those people who bought up masks at the hardware store. Because I knew that my spouse would need them, he's a primary care doctor, 60 y.o., and will be on the front lines. No way was I going to take a chance on that.

But that's a different story and someone who is in the medical field and would need them. I'm sorry, but the general public doesn't need to buy 20 packs of lysol wipes (which is happening at the store right now), 10 bottles of motrin, three boxes of gloves, and 5 boxes of N95 masks. I'm seeing what my family members are going through with keeping necessary supplies for their employees, some of whom are health care workers, and it's frustrating for them. And creates a problem down the line if the HC workers can't get the supplies to help patients.

Is it panic-buying to buy because you know OTHERS are going to panic-buy?

That's the problem.... watching the items fly off the shelf, wondering if you need them too, the panic to find and buy them also.... at a large quantity, wondering if you should buy them now since they may not be there next week. It's getting crazy! Shelves of OTC pain meds are bare in my local Walmart, there are signs up for limits on purchasing disinfectant wipes, there's NO hand sanitizer to be found here, people are wearing masks at certain places in spite of our state having NO KNOWN CASES. I know it's scary, but some things are so out of control.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I bought a pack of masks back in 2015 and bring them with us every time we go to WDW just in case we end up with a stomach bug in our party and I find myself having to clean up after someone (to guard against mist/splash). Now, I feel like I have a little bit of gold hidden away in our Disney box right now. lol

 

[robododo]

Heh. Seems to be that way in some places -- -I dont think it is WIDESPREAD panic ..yet ..at least in my locale. But the minute a case pops up nearby -- I could see it going nuts.

I work in Kirkland, WA, and assumed there would be panic after the first deaths and word spread of a possible outbreak.

So far, everyone is remaining fairly calm. Most folks are self-quarantining as much as possible, but people are still being civil. There has been a run on a few items at the stores: hand sanitizer, rice, and masks/gloves are hard or impossible to find. Otherwise, store shelves are still well-stocked.

Many local companies (including my employer) have us working from home. So... here I am procrastinating on disboards before I login to work

 

[QueenElinor]

I bought a pack of masks back in 2015 and bring them with us every time we go to WDW just in case we end up with a stomach bug in our party and I find myself having to clean up after someone (to guard against mist/splash). Now, I feel like I have a little bit of gold hidden away in our Disney box right now. lol

Some of my Californian friends have old n95 masks left over from the wildfires. Silver linings, I guess.

That's the problem.... watching the items fly off the shelf, wondering if you need them too, the panic to find and buy them also.... at a large quantity, wondering if you should buy them now since they may not be there next week. It's getting crazy! Shelves of OTC pain meds are bare in my local Walmart, there are signs up for limits on purchasing disinfectant wipes, there's NO hand sanitizer to be found here, people are wearing masks at certain places in spite of our state having NO KNOWN CASES. I know it's scary, but some things are so out of control.

I wonder- why didn't these people have all this stuff BEFORE this all started? I mean, do they not keep TP around? Hand sanitizer? I bought one bottle. That's it.

We live where the weather is nasty and it's a long way to the Costco or anything else for many people. Stocking up literally comes with the territory. Except for masks, there are no empty shelves around here, we all already have what we need for the most part. There are some ranchers around here where a two-week quarantine wouldn't affect them one bit.

I've actually been sending things like Clorox wipes to my kids back east, they can't get them. It's nuts.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

But that higher price will lead to more production, especially for simple things like sanitizer, gloves, masks, etc. If the price is high enough, companies NOT making these products now can re-tool and get their piece of the action. I know DuPont is doing that right now. 3M is ramping current production way up, which costs them much more in overtime wages. They're not going to do this out of the kindness of their cold little corporate hearts.

Controlling prices or commandeering the supply is the worse thing to do right now. They tried that in America once when we had a gasoline shortage and it was a disaster. Then we had less gas than before the price controls. It was particularly bad in Hawaii. Companies just quit supplying them altogether.

This is no different than surge pricing on Uber, which people also don't like. But, when surge pricing happens, a lot of idle drivers jump in the game and you have more rides.

Medical supply production will ramp up, the price will come down, and hopefully everyone will get what they need. It'll take a few weeks, but the shortages won't last forever.

I'm not saying what the companies are doing is right- I'm just saying that it's part of how things work, and tinkering with that generally causes more problems than it solves.

Wow, stealing masks from HC providers is just vile. Well, stealing them from anyone is.

But I'll confess I'm one of those people who bought masks at the hardware store. Because I knew that my spouse would need them, he's a primary care doctor, 60 y.o., and will be on the front lines. No way was I going to take a chance on that.

A month or two ago, I figured out how bad this could get, I was there when Lowe's opened up at 6 am. It says "not approved for medical use" on the box, but that has to do with fire-resistance, and he doesn't work in an OR.

Is it panic-buying to buy because you know OTHERS are going to panic-buy?

Thanks I didn't see that part of the story!

 

[DrunkJam]

My trip is 8-13 June. BUT I have to decide whether to go by 16th MARCH. If I cancel then I just have to swallow losing the deposit, after that, and I lose the whole cost of the holiday.
Reports are that the peak of this is going to be around May here (in UK) so, it might be the very worst time to travel to USA, since it might be a tiny bit later there. And with our family considerations, it looks like I won't be travelling.
I don't know what to do for the best. I don't want to panic BUT I don't want to lose the large amount of money a WDW vacation costs over something I could see coming.
Yes, these things do blow themselves out. But, I don't think it will be by then.

 

[rjb123]

Some of my Californian friends have old n95 masks left over from the wildfires. Silver linings, I guess.



I wonder- why didn't these people have all this stuff BEFORE this all started? I mean, do they not keep TP around? Hand sanitizer? I bought one bottle. That's it.

We live where the weather is nasty and it's a long way to the Costco or anything else for many people. Stocking up literally comes with the territory. Except for masks, there are no empty shelves around here, we all already have what we need for the most part. There are some ranchers around here where a two-week quarantine wouldn't affect them one bit.

I've actually been sending things like Clorox wipes to my kids back east, they can't get them. It's nuts.

I am a retired (raising my kids right now) hospice nurse and trust me when I say that lots of people don't keep the basic hygiene items on hand. Or the basic cleaning supplies. Of course some folks are truly living pay check to paycheck so they purchase ONLY what they need that week, but others, yeah, its just plain gross how dirty homes can be. And how little hand washing goes on behind doors.