The toilet paper thing is especially crazy because neither paper towels nor paper tissues are bought - though here in Germany the toilet-paper and pasta are sold out more in the urban centers. I'm living in a small town and there's not a lot of panic buying.
Having free healthcare and indefinite paid sick leave I never thought about how the economic system influences such an epidemic. Anyone infected going to work instead of staying at home fastens the spread of the virus.
Along with the absurd high price of healthcare, the number of employees in the US who don't have any coverage for long-term sick leave is going to be something that really hurts the US effort to slow the spread. I just listened to a Macro Voices podcast where the guest, Juliette Declercq, made a side comment to the effect that during this pandemic one might be better off being treated in Germany than the UK or the US. If so, that sounds like that's a bit of good news for you...