***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.”

[oaklandhater]

We need an immediate five-week national lockdown to defeat coronavirus in America

Locking down the country would reduce infections and allow time for massive testing. There will be staggering human and economic costs if we delay.


I am an MIT-trained physicist and complexity scientist who studies pandemics. I have warned about global pandemics due to increasing travel for 15 years. I recommended community based monitoring of symptoms to stop Ebola in West Africa in 2014, and it worked. The fastest and even the only way to contain COVID-19 in the United States is a five-week national lockdown.

Closing schools, bars and movie theaters are good measures, but not enough. Our relaxed approach to social distancing is insufficient to stop the exponential growth of COVID-19. Until Americans consistently adopt strong social distancing recommendations — a lockdown — the disease will continue to spread exponentially.

During a five-week national lockdown, federal, state and local authorities would ensure that all Americans stay home except to obtain food and other essentials, access medical care, or do work essential to the functioning of society. Travel would cease: We would close our borders and airports and prohibit all unnecessary travel across state and county (or town) lines within the United States. The U.S. government would have to provide aid to citizens separated from their sources of income and ensure care for vulnerable members of society.

Lockdown would sharply reduce cases
During the first two weeks of a lockdown, infected individuals will either recover from mild cases of COVID-19 at home or seek medical attention for the 14% of cases that are severe. During the third, fourth and fifth weeks, any newly infected family or cohabitants of infected individuals will recover or seek medical attention and their isolation will prevent further spreading. By the end of the lockdown, the number of infections will be a small fraction of what they are now.

Don't panic:The best thing everyday Americans can do to fight coronavirus? #StayHome, save lives

The lockdown will give us time to dramatically scale up our supply of COVID-19 test kits and capacity to process them. If we reduce the number of infections using the lockdown and start a massive testing regime in the United States, we can control COVID-19 after five weeks without such extreme social distancing measures. Isolating sick individuals and their immediate contacts will be enough.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opini...mn/2890376001/


Seems like the longer this goes on the worst it gets if we lockdown life might start going back to normal in by july

[wazu]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

So I have real high anxiety right now about getting this virus but also economically. Should I start pulling money out the bank?

Relax. If banks fail to a point you can't get money out of banks, money won't be of any use to you anyway.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by wazu

Yeah there's nothing better than seeing people cheer for shutting it all down when they personally don't have a job that gets immediately ended by such a policy.

I don’t think anybody is cheering for this, well no sane person.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I haven't seen anyone 'cheering' to shut it all down.

no one wants to end jobs.


but all the models show that if we don't shut it down shit hits the fan.


the quicker shit gets shut down the faster every one can go back to work.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

Yes, let’s have a run on the banks to complete this disaster!

I’m sorry, the sarcasm really isn’t directed at you personally. I’m just frustrated at this unnecessary situation.

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Not sure why there would be any reason for that.

Originally Posted by Donger

No. That's the last thing anyone (and everyone) should do. It'll be okay. Your money is safe (intended).

Alright I am going to trust you guys. Just worried we are going to go in a great depression especially if we have to shutdown the country until August or later.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I haven't seen anyone 'cheering' to shut it all down.

Except for the post right after yours...

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Not sure why there would be any reason for that.

people may run out of money but it’s not a banking company issue, this time. There is no reason to think a panicked populace would create a run on the banks.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Almost every business is closed. Where are people supposed to work? We need to stay home and hope the curve gets bent.

The government has no choice but to pay expenses of the majority of its citizens for 30-60 days if it wants to avoid a really bad outcome of this whole mess.

That was kind of my point - people can’t work because we are shutting practically everything down. And we are doing so in hopes that people do not build immunity to this virus so that we continue to pass it around until we finally get a vaccine. It is stupid, it is insane and it is dangerous in a variety of ways.

[suzzer99]

This is the security line right now at @ATLairport. pic.twitter.com/Cu7FFmJNyx

— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) March 21, 2020

Yes. They were taken to Dobbins ARB. Passengers told me only those showing any symptoms or those who claimed to have them were tested by @CDCgov. Rest handed pamphlets about #Covid19 and released.

— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) March 21, 2020

I guess there's no way around this stuff. It's everywhere now so what's a few more cruise ship passengers?

[44yearsandcounting]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

If they came out and stated that was the plan it would be nice.

There’s almost no way it’s not the plan, if we’re being honest.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I haven't seen anyone 'cheering' to shut it all down.

Advocating is a better word to use. Basically people touting how "this will save lives". Much less concerned with what it will do to the lives of families who immediately lose their income.

[2112]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

So I have real high anxiety right now about getting this virus but also economically. Should I start pulling money out the bank?

Take vitamins and keep well hydrated. Your body works best when it’s hydrated.

I take 1000 milligrams vitamin c, b complex, E, 50 milligrams zinc , coq10 and fish oil and I drink about a gallon and a half of water a day. I feel great. Pee Dirk, just keep peeing and flush your body of toxins. I haven’t gotten sick all winter and I work outside.

Use your own judgement on your bank.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

That was kind of my point - people can’t work because we are shutting practically everything down. And we are doing so in hopes that people do not build immunity to this virus so that we continue to pass it around until we finally get a vaccine. It is stupid, it is insane and it is dangerous in a variety of ways.

tying to build herd immunity to this thing was one the stupidest ****ing ideas tossed around even the UK has given up on that it spreads to fast takes to long to over come and over whelms hospitals.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Alright I am going to trust you guys. Just worried we are going to go in a great depression especially if we have to shutdown the country until August or later.

isnt every account government insured to 100K now after the 2008 crash?

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Except for the post right after yours...

I wouldn't really call that cheering.