Things to keep with you during Corona quarantine

Hello People,

I hope you already have ticket for you journey from USA back to India. Now, I do not know if the government is going to quarantine you in the government facility or in a hotel or hospital or at your home (will be referred to as "q-place" going forward :D ). But, better be prepared with some life saving items with you which will help you during the quarantine period - and I assume that it is a 7 days period.

I am trying to list the items per person. The number of items needed is in the brackets. So if you are in a group, then multiply (most of) those with the number of people in the group.

Note: This list is as per my beliefs and my understanding of life. Your thoughts and list can be different than this.

Personal Care:

1. Polyester (or any non-cotton) shirts and pants or dresses (3): These dry really fast and also you can wear it for 2 days.
2. undergarments (7): This will save you from washing the garments again and again. I doubt that there will be hygienic laundry facility.
3. Perfume bottle: Pack a small perfume bottle. No deodorants - those have lot of gas. Perfume are just fine.
4. Masks (2): Wash everyday. Any kind of mask would work to give you psychological satisfaction. I am not medical expert, so you can ask your doctor about brand and type of mask before flying.
5. Napkins/Handkerchief (2): These will help you after you wash your hands and face in the q place.
6. Bath Towels (2): Do not assume that the q-place has replacement towels. Better to take your own.
7. toothbrush and toothpaste.
8. Feminine care products: For your feminine needs.
9. Diapers: For your kids.
10. Socks (3): If you wear shoes, then fresh pair of socks is always mandatory everyday to save other people from bad odor.
11. A liquid bath soap: A small bottle of a liquid bath soap can be used at many occasions - bathing, washing hands, washing cloths.
12. Shaving kit: Not mandatory, if you are fine with long hairs on your face.
13. Bi-spectacles.
14. Pin: A U-Pin or Safty-Pin is useful for anything like replacing a lost button on shirt or removing SIM card from phone.
15. Shawl: This will be useful if you are not feeling comfortable to use q-place blanket. Shawl can fit in a small place in your bag.

Medical Care:

1. Regular medicines sufficient for 1 month: Better to carry a stock for 1 month even if q-place is for 14 days. Keep a prescription with you just in case asked by anyone or need a refill.
2. Thermometer: This is optional, but will be helpful if doctor asks to measure your temperature - instead of using a shared thermometer.
3. Antacid: You will need it because you will be mostly immobile for 14 days - eating outside food 3 times a day.

Electronics:

1. Smartphone: This will be useful for entertainment as well as ArogyaSetu app required by Government of India.
2. Mobile charger.
3. Headphones.
4. Laptop and laptop charger: This is optional and depends on your needs.
5. Indian SIM card: This card should be active with good talk time balance and excessive data balance.
6. Pin converter: It is needed if your charger has USA type pins.

Food:

1. Biscuits: Very useful if you do not get good or enough food at q-place. Also helps diabetic people to control the blood sugar levels.
2. Khakra: Very useful if you do not get good or enough food at q-place. Any vacuum-sealed pack is good and it stays good for months. So it will be useful once you reach to your home as well.
3. Chocolate: To keep kids happy at the q-place.
4. Milk powder: Useful if you are not getting milk at q-place.
5. Coco powder or Bournvita: It will be good for your kids.
6. Sugar and Salt sachets: It will be good for kids and elderly people.

Miscellaneous:

1. Plastic/Paper plates (14): Can be used to eat something.
2. Plastic spoons (14): Can be used to eat something.
3. Plastic glasses (14): Can be used to drink water.
4. Plastic carry bags: Can be useful for garbage, vomit, cover or also wrapping used cloths on final day of quarantine.
5. A4 or A3 size blank papers: Can be used for anything - like - wiping, cleaning, drawing for kids, writing, passing the time.
6. coloring sketch pens or crayons: Necessary to keep kids engaged.
7. Toys (2): Very necessary to keep the kids engaged, but keep it to 2 in number to avoid over crowded luggage.
8. Empty water bottle: This can be used if you do not want to fill your glasses again and again or do not want to use glasses kept for public. And you can pass this empty bottle from airport security before boarding your flight.
9. Keys for your home at your destination: This is very important. You need to carry keys for your home.
10. Money: I think a cash of INR 10000/- needs to be with us to manage urgent expenses. It depends on your risk appetite. If you have a credit or debit card, then lesser cash would do.
11. Pen: To fill up the forms at airport.

I tried to fit all these items for me and I ended up with a cabin-size bag and a very small laptop bag. I packed all electronic stuff and food stuff in my laptop bag. I packed all other items in that cabin bag. These two bags (one cabin bag + one personal item like laptop bag) are allowed on most of the airlines like Air India, United, Delta, etc. This also avoids your waiting at the luggage belt as you would not have any checked in bag. But if you are going to carry a child stroller or any other over-sized item or all of your belongings from USA then that's a whole different story and then you need 2 regular check-in size bags.