***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 Rain Man

People have been getting on planes with colds since at least 1985 when I took my first flight. I know because they always sit next to me.

Me too. But, during an outbreak like this is an order of magnitude up the asshole factor.

[Donger]

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...839Z/KEGE/KDEN

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Donger

So, some asshole intentionally got on a plane sick during a coronavirus outbreak?

No. Read the article before commenting.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by eDave

‘Disruptive’ passengers upset by someone sneezing on flight cause United plane to divert

A small group of passengers became disruptive on Flight 1562 after they were seated next to someone who was sneezing and coughing, United Airlines officials told Denver media.

The passengers failed to follow crew members’ instructions, forcing the diversion to Denver, where the plane was met by police and the disruptive passengers removed, KUSA-TV reported.

https://www.kron4.com/news/national/...ane-to-divert/

Good lord..

[Donger]

Originally Posted by eDave

No. Read the article before commenting.

Just did. Allergies, eh?

[SupDock]

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota...n-anoka-county

Person in their 30s in critical condition. "no glaringly apparent underlying health conditions that we're aware of right now."*

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Donger

Me too. But, during an outbreak like this is an order of magnitude up the asshole factor.

If theres one place I could understand seeing someone be sick its on an airplane. Are you going to cancel a vacation and eat the 900 dollar plane ticket that you reserved months ago because you have the sniffles? Of course not.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BWillie

If theres one place I could understand seeing someone be sick its on an airplane. Are you going to cancel a vacation and eat the 900 dollar plane ticket that you reserved months ago because you have the sniffles? Of course not.

Of course not. Just potentially infect 100 other people because you didn't buy a refundable ticket.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Donger

Of course not. Just potentially infect 100 other people because you didn't buy a refundable ticket.

Attitudes like that are why measures to prevent the spread of diseases like this are largely futile. Most people simply don't care one whit about others if there are a few dollars on the line, such as the change fee an airline might charge you...

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Attitudes like that are why measures to prevent the spread of diseases like this are largely futile. Most people simply don't care one whit about others if there are a few dollars on the line, such as the change fee an airline might charge you...

This is why you should always get travel insurance.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by BWillie

If theres one place I could understand seeing someone be sick its on an airplane. Are you going to cancel a vacation and eat the 900 dollar plane ticket that you reserved months ago because you have the sniffles? Of course not.

Aren't you the same guy with diarrhea who shits all over public bathroom stalls then posts that you feel sorry for the guy at McDonald's who has to clean it up?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by TLO

Good lord..

if we bail out the airlines we’d better get something for it, like not treating us like cattle. Provide customer service. Don’t behave like dictators on the plane.

[Baby Lee]

Killer premise, nonpolitical

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by penguinz

This is why you should always get travel insurance.

Interestingly, while travel insurance will cover you if you get sick, it won't cover you if the place you were going is a hotbed of infection. (I looked into it due to a trip to Italy this coming summer, and I have travel insurance through my credit card.)

Thankfully, the airlines are being pretty good about waiving change fees.

[FD]

Amazing! What South Korea is doing is really bending their #Covid19 epidemic curve. Only 131 new cases today, versus 909 on Feb. 29.
It's not just China. This clearly can be done. https://t.co/sueAO9XLF7 pic.twitter.com/Bw7WX1s9nM

— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) March 10, 2020

We need to figure out what kind of tax cuts South Korea passed and just copy that.