My MSN news feed coughed up this article. Yes, I know it's actually from WaPo, but I think the paper is right for a change:
How to prepare for coronavirus in the U.S. (Spoiler: Not sick? No need to wear a mask.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-to-prepare-for-coronavirus-in-the-us-spoiler-not-sick-no-need-to-wear-a-mask/ar-BB10q0NE?ocid=spartandhp
I agree. Calm is the one thing that gives us a chance against the virus.
This has been hyped in a roundabout way, by untrustworthy sources saying "there is nothing to see here", people who could tell me the sky is blue or the sun is hot, and I would have to go check.
The American people don't generally trust the media--at least a significant portion don't--and suspicion of government ties in as well. Now the CDC appears to be throwing in the towel, that announced by someone whose political leanings might possibly transcend good science, or at least the concept of disease containment.
IF the virus is more deadly than say, an ordinary flu strain sans vaccine, then every day a person goes uninfected is a day closer to a possible vaccine. To simply abdicate any responsibility and meekly surrender a population of 330,000,000+ to whatever comes is NOT what these people get paid for.
But I can see where panic, blamed on the POTUS would be just what these folks desire.
Panic will be seen in the form of shortages, because inventory supply is done on an as needed basis, based on ordinary stock turnover and minimal warehousing. If everyone who goes to the store just buys two of what they ordinarily buy one of, the store will run out in short order. Empty shelves only reinforce that panic, the tendency to hoard supplies and 'stock up', which becomes a vicious circle.
We saw the same thing done with .22 caliber ammo a few years back--supplies were short, prices spiked, and people 'scalped' ammo for a profit.
The same thing could happen with everything from bottled water to toilet paper. Masks, disinfectants, etc. are almost certain to be on that list. Those apparent shortages will be seen as a sure sign that things ar more severe than the CDC and government are letting on, which will only reinforce the panic.