***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.”

[tk13]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

The economic consequences for one.

When Austin, Texas cancels SXSW, that is $350+ million in lost local business.

You aren't stopping the consequences either way. It's too late for that. I've said that for a couple weeks now and it looks more true now than ever. This thing is going to dent the economy. It's just a matter of how much.

Even if you don't cancel events, people aren't going to want to go to games or movies or restaurants when this thing becomes really widespread. Or when a large group of people get sick themselves. That's no reason to panic and people do get too hysterical, but there's no way to stop this thing. It's just common sense. How do you stop a virus you have no treatment for and can be in your body for two weeks before showing symptoms? The only way is to keep people from interacting and spreading it around.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by tk13

The only way is to keep people from interacting and spreading it around.

Which means "social distancing" and travel bans are never going away.

Just so we're clear.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Most places aren't going to be giving refunds if they don't cancel the event.

Concerts are going to be cheap

[Loneiguana]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Which means "social distancing" and travel bans are never going away.

Just so we're clear.

America has done stuff like this before and those specific actions went away.

St. Louis saw the deadly 1918 Spanish flu epidemic coming. Shutting down the city saved countless lives

In early October, city health commissioner Dr. Max C. Starkloff ordered the closure of schools, movie theaters, saloons, sporting events and other public gathering spots. Churches were told to suspend Sunday services. At the time, with nearly 800,000 residents, St. Louis was among the top 10 largest American cities.

With the flu continuing its rampage, Starkloff imposed a stricter quarantine in November, closing down all businesses with few exceptions including banks, newspapers, embalmers and coffin makers, according to Post-Dispatch archives.

The quarantine was temporarily lifted Nov. 18 but reinstated when the flu roared back in December. By Dec. 10 the flu peaked in the city with 60 deaths in one day. After illnesses declined sharply, the quarantine was lifted just after Christmas.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...785692bb5.html

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Which means "social distancing" and travel bans are never going away.

Just so we're clear.

There goes my vacation....

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Which means "social distancing" and travel bans are never going away.

Just so we're clear.

I'm thinking you may be underestimating the corporate lobby's influence on American politics.

People traveling less = less money for corporations and less money for everyone.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Loneiguana

closing down all businesses with few exceptions including banks, newspapers, embalmers and coffin makers

Gotta have priorities, after all.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I'm thinking you may be underestimating the corporate lobby's influence on American politics.

People traveling less = less money for corporations and less money for everyone.

Wait till people who aren't allowed to go to work don't have to pay their bills like Italy...I'm sure that will get a great reaction from everyone.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Mecca

There goes my vacation....

I'm guessing I won't be traveling in June.

Wondering if Ticketmaster will honor a refund if the concert I've got tickets to cancels due to COVID19

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

The economic consequences for one.

When Austin, Texas cancels SXSW, that is $350+ million in lost local business.

On a national basis, I would think that the economic losses will be net zero, other than international arrivals. If I don't go to the market research conference in Atlanta, I'll probably stay here and buy a bunch of ice cream and pay-per-view movies instead. And some person in Atlanta won't come to the dog training conference in Denver, so they'll stay home and buy a bunch of yogurt and a bowflex machine.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

I'm guessing I won't be traveling in June.

Wondering if Ticketmaster will honor a refund if the concert I've got tickets to cancels due to COVID19

I'm supposed to go to Cancun for a week in June.

[ReynardMuldrake]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Did you seriously just cite a source disproving your own argument? I don't think that says what you think it says.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm supposed to go to Cancun for a week in June.

Yeah you're not gonna be there. Good luck on getting all the refunds you can while you can.

[displacedinMN]

colleges closing like crazy.

Iowa
Minnesota
Grinnell
Mich St.
Harvard

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Yeah you're not gonna be there. Good luck on getting all the refunds you can while you can.

Man it was this badass resort too....god damn it.