What ‘Coronavirus Supplies’ Should You Have at Home? The Same Things You Always Should.

Note: This article was published on March 6 and is no longer being updated. This is a developing situation. Read our piece on "Your Coronavirus Questions Answered" for more information.

Public health officials and other experts the world over are urging people to be careful and smart amid the global coronavirus outbreak. For most people in most places, that means going about your daily life as you normally would and just taking a few extra precautions, like making sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

Of course, there are plenty of people who have been put under quarantine. (Here in New York state, where I live, there were more than 2,700 people under quarantine by March 5.) Most of these are preventative measures occurring out of an abundance of caution. And to be clear, the vast majority of people in most places do not need quarantines at this point—and hopefully never will.

But quarantines are one of many legitimate tools officials can use as they race to slow the spread of the virus (as of Friday, there were confirmed cases in no fewer than 83 countries). Though we don’t think everyone should be stockpiling food and supplies because of coronavirus, we also think it pays to be prepared. As we write in our guide to the best emergency preparedness supplies: “There’s never a bad time to prepare for a crisis by stocking up on gear and organizing it so you know exactly where it is when you need it most.”

So, beyond our recommended emergency supply gear, what sort of stuff should you have on hand to help you make the most of any time you’re stuck at home? Here’s a brief rundown:

Food

Stocking up on a couple weeks’ worth of nonperishable groceries that can keep for a while and are simple to prepare is a good idea for just about anyone, regardless of the coronavirus. You don’t have to be a doomsday prepper to be judiciously prepared.

And you can do better than Spam! Lesley Stockton, a senior writer at Wirecutter covering kitchen gear, recommends dishes that feature shelf-stable ingredients like pasta or beans, or meat that you can keep frozen for long periods of time. Specifically, that means meals like pasta puttanesca or red beans and rice.

She also noted that eggs keep well in the fridge, that coffee and tea are always good to have around, and that assorted nuts and cashews are great snacks. And if you want an easy breakfast that doesn’t require milk, oatmeal is a solid option.

FEMA also has suggestions for food that requires little to no cooking and that’s good to have during emergencies. Protein or fruit bars—we like Clif bars—dried fruit, peanut butter, and ready-to-eat canned food are all great options. (Make sure you have a decent can opener as well!)

Also: Don’t forget disposable but necessary daily items such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers (if you have an infant), and litter and other pet products (if you have a pet).

Entertainment

Being prepared isn’t all rice and beans, paper goods, and cat litter. You can also prepare to divert yourself. It’s easy to go stir crazy when you’re cooped up inside. If you’re in a household with other people, I recommend having board games or video games to keep you distracted with competition (though if you’re actually in a quarantine situation, be careful not to spread any germs to your housemates if only one person is sick).

I’d also recommend an ebook reader that makes it easy to get new books without ever having to get up or interact with the outside world. And if you’re more of a TV-in-bed person, a good media streaming device can help you stream all the prestige shows you’ve been hearing about but haven’t had the time to catch up on.