***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.”

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

They "can" but its not likely nor is it the main purpose. Its more likely the droplet sits on your mask while you inhale and exhale and eventually some gets in.

And again why do you need to wear goggles if the people around you are wearing masks? Where are the droplets coming from?

"Normal" masks aren't 100% effective. So, droplets are present regardless. More so around the idiots who are wearing masks.

You don't "have to" wear goggles or eye protection. It's just an additional protective measure.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

I don't know. I don't think the actions they are taking over 30 cases is particularly smart though. Are they just going to open up and shut back down for all eternity?

I'd imagine that they are going to temporarily close things down until they get data that shows that the outbreak has been driven down, then re-evaluate.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Ummm I fully understand the concept of how masks are supposed to work. They are supposed to keep the mask wearer form infecting other people by keeping droplets out of the air.

Which is why I also understand the need to wear goggles makes no sense if you think the masks work.

If you actually understood the concept, you wouldn't have found the statement made by Dr. Fauci odd or ridiculous. He was not "[pointing] towards the apparent ineffectiveness of masks since the whole goal of them is to keep the virus from becoming airborne."

This is what led me to believe you didn't posses the ability to understand a simple concept.

Do you think Dr. Fauci mentioned goggles because the masks don't work or do you think Dr. Fauci mentioned goggles because not everyone is wearing a mask in public?

Originally Posted by Marcellus

And if you are around people not wearing a mask, don't get close enough to get coughed up. I mean when was the last time you were coughed on or sneezed on by someone outside your household?

While you make it seem very easy and simple on paper, I don't believe you have to be coughed on or sneezed on directly for virus-carrying particles to enter your system through your eyes. You're also not in control of how others act around you.

There have not been any mandates to wear goggles. Dr. Fauci was simply talking about another simple measure to potentially protect yourself further.

Again, I am not sure why it's so difficult for you to grasp how that statement in no way points to the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of masks.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I think that many countries are doing mass testing per capita. It would be interesting to see how many other countries have positivity percentages like ours, which is 7.8% today and thankfully trending down slowly.

Some are. Some aren't. I found a chart somewhere a day or two ago regarding testing but I'm too lazy to look for it right now.

I don't particularly want to argue that the US did a good job in its response, because it obviously didn't. But in the end I think every country is going to have to go through struggles to get through this - even if they look like they've done a good job so far.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Do you realize outside of NY and NJ the US numbers are comparable to most any other "modern" country in the world? Did NY and NJ defy efforts for political reasons?

Are you talking about a hard death count? What criteria are you comparing?

[eDave]

AZ is at 12K tests per day against a target of 35K by tomorrow that Ducey announced as his federally supported "Project Catapult".

If I miss published milestones I get fired.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TLO

I don't know. I don't think the actions they are taking over 30 cases is particularly smart though. Are they just going to open up and shut back down for all eternity?

They are going to try to drive the virus down. The alternative is mass infections then lots of people dying.

Would you rather have 465 cases and no deaths or a few million cases and 150k dead?

[O.city]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

They are going to try to drive the virus down. The alternative is mass infections then lots of people dying.

Would you rather have 465 cases and no deaths or a few million cases and 150k dead?

Do you think anything else matters other than doing that?

[mr. tegu]

The problem with comparing the US as a whole to most other single countries is that it’s inherently flawed based on size both geographically and population. Then there is of course the idea that there is no way to say any one country is going to be better off long term than the others. It’s way too uncertain for any country to be spiking the football.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by eDave

AZ is at 12K tests per day against a target of 35K by tomorrow that Ducey announced as his federally supported "Project Catapult".

If I miss published milestones I get fired.

This blows me away. Last time IL was at 12K tests per day was on 4/25 and we can't get shit right as a state.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

Do you think anything else matters other than doing that?

I would more fully answer your question but we can't discuss it here. So to give you a short answer, no. I don't believe currently there is middle door with Covid, it is hammer and dance.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I would more fully answer your question but we can't discuss it here. So to give you a short answer, no. I don't believe currently there is middle door with Covid, it is hammer and dance.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

This blows me away. Last time IL was at 12K tests per day was on 4/25 and we can't get shit right as a state.

The current 12K is a declining number as well. Ducey sold his political soul to satan. And while following satan's direction has lost him constituents through death and disagreement it is of no surprise that he is following satan's direction now. There is no return policy with satan.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

They "can" but its not likely nor is it the main purpose. Its more likely the droplet sits on your mask while you inhale and exhale and eventually some gets in.

Do you understand the idea that something can provide a significant improvement and can significantly slow spread and thus would provide a large public benefit, even if it is not as protective as a hazmat suit?

[Donger]

What on Earth is going on in Missouri?