I’m keeping a close eye on this, personally, as this is one of the two most likely reasons for the SHTF, where survivalist tactics can mean life instead of death. The other is a solar super-storm.

Much is unknown about the virus, but the worst case scenario is quite easy to predict – and plan for.

• The number of cases in China will rapidly accelerate. This is because the virus appears to be must easier to spread that other viruses, and has a longer incubation period, up to 2-3 weeks. The latest estimates are each infected person will infect 2.6 others. That is like rabbits breeding…
• I can’t do the math, but 100K people infected and 5,000 dead in China is easily possible when it peaks. It could continue being a problem in China for many months
• China will become completely isolated from the rest of the world. Nobody in, and nobody out. It will start with a smaller country banning all Chinese flights, with bigger countries following suit a few days after
• Other countries will quarantine all January arrivals from China. If they don’t, it will spread.
• The random nature of the spread of a virus means that a handful of non-Asian cities will be hard hit and need to take drastic measures.
• Citizens of those cities might panic. Definitely expect food to disappear from supermarkets
• Many workers in those cities will decide to stay at home, until the threat disappears. This could have unexpected consequences, for industries where minimum staff numbers are needed. For example, public transport and health care.