***NON-POLITICAL COVID-19 Discussion Thread***

[JakeF]

A couple of reminders...

Originally Posted by Bwana

Once again, don't come in this thread with some kind of political agenda, or you will be shown the door. If you want to go that route, there is a thread about this in DC.

Originally Posted by Dartgod

People, there is a lot of good information in this thread, let's try to keep the petty bickering to a minimum.

We all have varying opinions about the impact of this, the numbers, etc. We will all never agree with each other. But we can all keep it civil.

Thanks!

Click here for the original OP:

Spoiler!

Apparently the CoronaVirus can survive on a inanimate objects, such as door knobs, for 9 days.

California coronavirus case could be first spread within U.S. community, CDC says
By SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA, JACLYN COSGROVE
FEB. 26, 2020 8:04 PM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating what could be the first case of novel coronavirus in the United States involving a patient in California who neither recently traveled out of the country nor was in contact with someone who did.

“At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown. It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States,” the CDC said in a statement. “Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.”

The individual is a resident of Solano County and is receiving medical care in Sacramento County, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The CDC said the “case was detected through the U.S. public health system — picked up by astute clinicians.”

Officials at UC Davis Medical Center expanded on what the federal agency might have meant by that in an email sent Wednesday, as reported by the Davis Enterprise newspaper.

The patient arrived at UC Davis Medical Center from another hospital Feb. 19 and “had already been intubated, was on a ventilator, and given droplet protection orders because of an undiagnosed and suspected viral condition,” according to an email sent by UC Davis officials that was obtained by the Davis Enterprise.

The staff at UC Davis requested COVID-19 testing by the CDC, but because the patient didn’t fit the CDC’s existing criteria for the virus, a test wasn’t immediately administered, according to the email. The CDC then ordered the test Sunday, and results were announced Wednesday. Hospital administrators reportedly said in the email that despite these issues, there has been minimal exposure at the hospital because of safety protocols they have in place.

A UC Davis Health spokesperson declined Wednesday evening to share the email with The Times.

Since Feb. 2, more than 8,400 returning travelers from China have entered California, according to the state health department. They have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and limit interactions with others as much as possible, officials said.

“This is a new virus, and while we are still learning about it, there is a lot we already know,” Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “We have been anticipating the potential for such a case in the U.S., and given our close familial, social and business relationships with China, it is not unexpected that the first case in the U.S. would be in California.”

It is not clear how the person became infected, but public health workers could not identify any contacts with people who had traveled to China or other areas where the virus is widespread. That raises concern that the virus is spreading in the United States, creating a challenge for public health officials, experts say.

“It’s the first signal that we could be having silent transmission in the community,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. “It probably means there are many more cases out there, and it probably means this individual has infected others, and now it’s a race to try to find out who that person has infected.”

On Tuesday, the CDC offered its most serious warning to date that the United States should expect and prepare for the coronavirus to become a more widespread health issue.

“Ultimately, we expect we will see coronavirus spread in this country,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “It’s not so much a question of if, but a question of when.”

According to the CDC’s latest count Wednesday morning, 59 U.S. residents have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus — 42 of whom are repatriated citizens from a Diamond Princess cruise. That number has grown by two since Messonnier’s last count Tuesday, although the CDC was not immediately available to offer details on the additional cases.

More than 82,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported globally, and more than 2,700 people have died, with the majority in mainland China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

But public health leaders have repeatedly reminded residents that the health risk from the novel coronavirus to the general public remains low.

“While COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low mortality rate,” the state Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday. “From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization. There have been no confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States to date.”

CDC officials have also warned that although the virus is likely to spread in U.S. communities, the flu still poses a greater risk.

Gostin said the news of potential silent transmission does not eliminate the possibility of containing the virus in the U.S. and preventing an outbreak.

“There are few enough cases that we should at least try,” he said. “Most of us are not optimistic that that will be successful, but we’re still in the position to try.”

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by FAX

It's fair to say that the US has the best health care system in the world. Our system surpasses Italy's, Spain's, the UK's, Canada's, etc., etc. No reasonable person would argue that point. We are not Italy and we have not imported Wuhan workers to make soft leather vests. We are different.

In short, I'm unconvinced that we're not being sold a bunch of politically-motivated overkill and undue panic.

FAX

I've heard variations on this theme that we don't have to worry because our health care is so awesome.

If you fracture your skull in a car wreck and get life flighted to a university research head trauma center, the treatment is the best in the world.

But treating C-19 patients isn't about being extremely high tech. It is mostly a question of ICU capacity, ventilators per capita, and the technicians to correctly use them.

Compared to the rest of the developed world, I don't think the US stacks up all that well.

I hope my worry is misplaced. We will probably, and unfortunately, find out in the next month or so.

[BigRedChief]

These are not tourists. They are local ****ing millennials.

Clearwater Beach, Florida is PACKED today despite "social distancing" recommendations. https://t.co/WzGydcP1Ja pic.twitter.com/vsRD4QLbhr

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 16, 2020

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

These are not tourists. They are local ****ing millennials.

Clearwater Beach, Florida is PACKED today despite "social distancing" recommendations. https://t.co/WzGydcP1Ja pic.twitter.com/vsRD4QLbhr

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 16, 2020

Good Lord.

[eDave]

What's the temperature down there?

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by TLO

Good Lord.

You gotta get out there when there's no red tide.

Young, in the sun. Don't think they are too worried.

Florida cops suck though so I am quite certain they would love nothing more than to put these little bastards on probation forever.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

You gotta get out there when there's no red tide.

Young, in the sun. Don't think they are too worried.

Florida cops suck though so I am quite certain they would love nothing more than to put these little bastards on probation forever.

They're idiots.

Screw the cops. They should have the National Guard roll down there and start firing tear gas.

Spoiler!

I'm kind of kidding. Kind of not

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by eDave

Has there been a run on diapers?

Of course. Baby products are one of the 1st things gone off the shelves

[Titty Meat]

Heard a nasty rumor liquor stores in KC are closing til april hopefully it's fake news

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Heard a nasty rumor liquor stores in KC are closing til april hopefully it's fake news

That'd be dumb. All the bars are closed, they are set to make a killing.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by wazu

That'd be dumb. All the bars are closed, they are set to make a killing.

Yea. What's the point of that?

They better not close dispensaries.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by eDave

What's the temperature down there?

low- mid 80’s. Water temp is up. It’s really nice down here this time of the year. These millennials think since it only kills old people why should we stop having a good time? They are having to close all the bars and restaurants because it’s party time.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Heard a nasty rumor liquor stores in KC are closing til april hopefully it's fake news

That doesn't seem like it would happen.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

low 80’s. Water temp is up. It’s really nice down here this time of the year. These millennials think since it only kills old people why should we stop having a good time? They are having to close all the bars and restaurants because it’s party time.

Is the narrative that all of this will go away when it warms up now over?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by eDave

Is the narrative that all of this will go away when it warms up now over?

maybe after they are done partying on spring break.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by TLO

They're idiots.

Screw the cops. They should have the National Guard roll down there and start firing tear gas.

Spoiler!

I'm kind of kidding. Kind of not

In two weeks we are supposed to be like Italy with the smell of burning bodies everywhere without the capacity to burn them all. Save your outrage for then, if it materializes. I don't think so.