On March 11th 2020, the WHO (World Health Organisation) formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and it is starting to look like many countries will swiftly follow Italy’s footsteps and order the self-isolation of their citizens. As more and more people begin to self-isolate, the supermarkets are slowly starting to run out of essential supplies. In the US and the UK, many grocery-stores are completely sold out of items like toilet paper, tinned food and antibacterial hand gel. It is therefore essential that the weak, elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions start to stockpile with the likelihood of complete self-isolation mounting day by day.

Whilst stocking up on anything is generally a good idea, some things are more important than others. The following is a summary of all the most important things you should pick up when preparing for the worst. The recommendation by the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) is to prepare for a minimum of 2 weeks of isolation. It is therefore essential to purchase things that last a long time.