The Federal Government activated its coronavirus emergency plan last week, as experts warned that a COVID-19 global pandemic could soon be declared.

While we're still being told to go about our normal lives, under a worst-case scenario in Australia, measures would include:

Aged-care homes being locked down

Aged-care homes being locked down Childcare centres being closed

Childcare centres being closed People having to work from home

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay told the ABC people needed to think about whether they had enough medication and food to last a fortnight (while also cautioning against panic buying, saying, "We don't want to see empty shelves").

Already, some supermarket shelves are starting to empty.

We asked our readers on Facebook Messenger to tell us what steps they'd taken (if any) to be prepared in case things got worse. Here's what they told us.

Colin D told us he'd been preparing for a while

His family started buying extra essential, long-life items in January:

"This avoided undue load on supply later. Examples are pet food, canned foods, rice, disinfectant, toilet paper, disposable gloves. Not a huge supply, but enough for a few weeks."

Alyson R told us it was 'better to feel prepared rather than worried'

This is what she's got stored up:

"Two months' worth of prescription medicines for the kids. Stocked up on cold and flu remedies and Hydralyte ice blocks. "One weeks' worth of portioned family meals in freezer, plus frozen meat and dried food (soups, lentils, beans, rice, pasta, long-life milk, dried fruit and nuts, etc) to get us by another two weeks if needed."

And Sarah C said she was privately preparing even while scoffing with friends about 'crazy preppers'

These are the measures she's taken:

"We've quietly cleaned out the pantry and restocked with enough food for a couple of weeks. Our family doctor has given us extra scripts for our regular medications and we've filled them. "We're trying to walk that fine line between panic buying and sensible preparations. We've reviewed good hand-washing techniques with the kids and banned shoes on in the house. "We're using it as an excuse for a spring clean and a reminder that there is nothing inherently crazy about making sure you have the resources to nurse your family through a time of crisis."

As well as groceries, a lot of you are stocking up on medicines. ( ABC News: Samantha Jonscher )

For others, stockpiling supplies isn't anything new, given financial pressures or the threat of natural disasters



Jeanette O says it's no different to stocking up for cyclone season:

"Have started buying additional long-life and tinned products including pet products. Not 'panic mode' shopping."

Sheryl M says living in Queensland, she's always kept emergency food supplies in case of power failures or shops being inaccessible:

"If you are really hungry, tin food and dried food is better than no food."

Dusty V is out of work due to a medical condition, and so is relying on welfare while living in a small outback town:

"Luckily for me, family sent me money at Christmas time. I used that money to stockpile basic essentials. "I can make breads, soups and stews, but fresh vegetables and fruit are a struggle and meat, eggs and dairy are out of the question. "Everyone is panic buying because of the virus, but this is my reality because of the low rates of Newstart. Happy that I'll be fine if the virus does hit, but this will be my reality long after it passes."

For some of you, it's not yourself that you're worried about

Megan G has had to think about her mum:

"She's 80 years old, lives in Melbourne. I live in Cairns. I have tried to buy up her toilet paper, tissues, prescriptions, soap, etc, while I am here this week. "The chemist refused to let her get prescriptions in advance on the PBS. This was annoying. She won't let me stock her up too much (set in her ways) despite the fact I won't be able to come back to help her if outbreak happens close to her. "I'd prefer to have the attitude of preparing for the worst while expecting the best. I would have liked to stock her up for three months but only managed a month."

Christine R has a similar story:

" I have put my Queensland-based mum on notice that I will be driving up to bring her back to Sydney with us. She is largely wheelchair-bound, and all of her children, and all but one grandchildren, live outside of Brisbane."

Kate A says her family is lucky because they're all relatively healthy:

"I really worry for elderly or disabled people, or people with prescriptions that they cannot stockpile."

Lyn F says her greatest difficulty is having an elderly parent in a nursing home:

"If it goes into lockdown and we can't visit, we can't attend to the dozens of things we still do for her that staff at the facility don't have time for."

Geraldine Y is worried about pets:

"It's not so much a matter of transmission, but rather due to the fact that the infected person is feeling too unwell to take care of the house pet or pets."

There are already shortages for some items at supermarkets. ( Supplied )

At the other end of the preparedness-scale, there are those who hadn't really thought about it

That includes Sarah H:

"Honestly, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind until I received this notification. I absolutely wouldn't have enough supplies in my house to last me more than a week."

And Helen C:

"Haven't done anything yet, but I'm thinking I probably should."

And Suze N:

"Now that you have prompted me, first things first! My dog is on a prescription diet so I need to make sure she has got enough for at least a month!"

As well as Simone K, who told us she couldn't afford it

"As a student, I work a casual job earning minimum wages and certainly do not have the money to buy weeks' worth of food. Stocking up is for the wealthy, not for a student like me."

And finally, there are those who simply aren't too worried

Patrick B:

"Everything is going to be fine. I have friends and relatives who have been in lockdown for the past month in China and they are all doing fine."

Sheryl G:

"I haven't thought it necessary to change my life at all. I think it's stories like this that frighten people unnecessarily and don't do anything positive or helpful. Scaremongering achieves nothing."

Gabriel H:

"No plans to take. Just leave it to God and pray for His protection."

Alex M:

"No preparations have been made. We don't think it will become serious enough here in Australia."

Jen F: