Excessively stocking up is not good.
It will make it impossible for those in need to find things that they would die without, and in some regions people will take advantage and increase the prices. Meaning more poverty.
Necessities to me are things your life and other people's lives depend on:
- foods that actually last,
- medications for your chronic illness,
- OTC fever reducer in case you caught up the virus. Please don't use it unless you're absolutely sure you need it. Don't use them for period pain and don't stock up more than three tablets per person.
- water
- enough soap
-60 percent alcohol sanitizers.
- Bleach solutions to wash your kitchen items, floor, and all surfaces.
-94n masks to protect yourself from catching the virus (if they are hard to find please leave them for professionals because they have to be in contact with patients much more than you do. If they are infected they will ultimately make everyone else sick
-Goggles for the same purpose
-Surgical masks in case you have to leave the house or go to the emergency and you have respiratory symptoms, this is so you don't infect others. And hotlines may request you to wear it.
Just a note about the gloves. I saw someone previously suggesting it will lower your risk of catching the infection. That is not entirely true and I doubt it, in a professional setting we do use gloves but not alone. You still have to wash hands frequently. And no pair of gloves can be used for two tasks because you will be contaminating your environment, transmitting the virus from an area to another. From a patient to a patient. They are thrown away and hands are washed afterwards. Also since you will have to take it off, you will be using one hand to remove it.
Just make sure to wash your hands as frequently as possible, the right way. And perhaps get disposable towels to close the water tap with after drying hands.
