***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.”

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

JFC, how many dead are acceptable before it’s not “hysteria”?

What should we have done instead?

I think you have that question backwards which is why this is a perfect example of hysteria. I mean seriously dude get a ****ing grip.

[JakeF]

Originally Posted by loochy

Hysteria could occur with any number dead

I think he meant "How many dead before it's not unwarranted emotion/hysteria."

[BleedingRed]

So back to what I was saying about hydroxychloroquine, maybe its time we start dosing all those who are in critical care with it. Get the FDA out of the way for those in the worst shape.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Going from *no* testing to *minimal* testing does not mean that there is widespread testing.

See above. And, we are now better than Japan regarding testing per capita. 331 per million based on 4 day old data.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Donger

Okay. We are now actively testing in all states. Thousands a day and rapidly increasing. Almost double what the UK has done.

And yes, I know our population and that we got a late start.

I understand a shit ton of more testing is being done. I wasn’t saying anything negative about the ramping up delay in testing. That’s a discussion for another day.

We don’t have a handle on where the outbreaks are occurring. For instance, all these packed flights leaving a known outbreak area(NY) to Florida, is that going to create new outbreak areas? The spring breakers going back to their campus’s Has already caused an outbreak at the University of Tampa. And so on and do on.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

So back to what I was saying about hydroxychloroquine, maybe its time we start dosing all those who are in critical care with it. Get the FDA out of the way for those in the worst shape.

Just an FYI in case you forgot, tonic water has quinine in it so you can be self medicating at home.

[tk13]

Boris Johnson dropping the hammer in Britain. Banning gatherings of more than 2 people and basically shutting everything non essential down. One form of exercise outside a day. Says police will enforce these rules.

"You must stay at home" - Boris Johnson says you may only leave home for the following reasons:

- Shopping for basic necessities
- One form of exercise a day
- Medical need
- Travelling to and from work

Read the #coronavirus measures in more detail: https://t.co/NJpO72P7v1 pic.twitter.com/ee9TJ6z0Nq

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 23, 2020

[Monticore]

I think if we acted like everybody had the virus for 2-3 weeks we maybe be able to get out of this mess sooner rather than later.

[suzzer99]

I saw a FB poster about military vehicles rolling into town and I started to roll my eyes. Then I realized it's one of the Nicaragua ex-pat forums I follow. Oh yeah. Whole different animal. You don't want to see that.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I think if we acted like everybody had the virus for 2-3 weeks we maybe be able to get out of this mess sooner rather than later.

Aren't you?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I think you have that question backwards which is why this is a perfect example of hysteria. I mean seriously dude get a ****ing grip.

this is a perfect “”DC” response. I asked what you would have done differently and you come back with a personal attack.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Donger

I wonder if there was a super spreader (or multiple) in NYC.

I wouldn't be shocked if our fearless leader has been asymptomatically spreading it this whole time.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I think if we acted like everybody had the virus for 2-3 weeks we maybe be able to get out of this mess sooner rather than later.

That's exactly the point of what they're doing now. It always should have been the plan. There's no way to stop this unless people stay apart from each other.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Let's hope it works.

Hospital doctors are apparently writing prescriptions for their families and using up the supply. Which sucks because it's needed for lupus patients. I know a guy who works in a hospital pharmacy - he says it's all over their forums. Most of them are telling the doctors to get bent.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I wouldn't be shocked if our....

Bad!