I guess South Korea and Taiwan learned from SARS, very impressed with the way they handled it. Went to the grocery today, no pasta, rice, cold cuts on the shelves - first time I've experienced something like that, heh. Not quite sure it is all that necessary but I guess school's closing was the catalyst for some people to realize things got real.
Did eventually find basmati rice, $9 for 2 lbs, sheesh. And had to check 4 places for it - funnily enough lots of jasmine, white and parboiled rice available. I guess all the panicking people have tastes that supercede desperation