[MagnumOpus]

Interestingly, the more severe response of "check or cancel all flights to China" would not have worked, because by January 21th, the virus started community transmission in Germany and Italy.

But stocking up the mask and respirator and PPE reserve immediately would not have gone amiss, nor would fever checks at airports, public buildings etc.

[melling]

There was also community spread in the United States on Jan 21st. Patient Zero arrived before any lockdown.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-03-09/how-coron...

[Erikun]

I feel like the problem with stocking up on material is that it would have to be done before the outbreak even began in China. By mid january, China was vacuuming the market completely for equipment and from there on it has only gotten worse for any country that didnt have domestic production, as countries who did started banning exports.