***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.”

[mililo4cpa]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

What a rational, well thought out and relevant post. I should thread ban you.

It felt wrong posting it....

[saphojunkie]

There is a national shortage of hydroxychloroquine because doctors are doing exactly what Bleeding Red wants... they're prescribing it broadly and without consideration.

Now, I'm all for getting the drug out, but not at the expense of the people whose pre-existing conditions HAVE been clinically proven to need HCQ for treatment. regardless, keeping tabs on its effectiveness this week is pointless.

You won't know anything until Tuesday. That's one week - the full time for suggested treatment - in NYC. That's when we'll really know if this is working. Unofficially, we'll start getting a lot more anecdotal evidence, but no one's gonna feel better until you have a large scale, double blind trial.

I want it to work. I was reading the Stanford report and the French trial papers before the President ever uttered its name. My opinions on the orange man are widely known here, but for once he and I are in lock-step: I WANT HCQ TO WORK.

My friend is covid-19 positive, and another friend gave her HCQ. It was her personal prescription for auto-immune disease.

I delivered it to her doorstep on Saturday. It's day five, and her fever is gone, her cough is better, her fatigue remains. She was also prescribed the Z-pack but hasn't gotten it yet. Anyway, HCQ seems to be working, as her fever had spiked the day she got the medicine and has now gone away and stayed away.

The point is, it seems to work, but we have to know for sure.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

There is a national shortage of hydroxychloroquine because doctors are doing exactly what Bleeding Red wants... they're prescribing it broadly and without consideration.

Now, I'm all for getting the drug out, but not at the expense of the people whose pre-existing conditions HAVE been clinically proven to need HCQ for treatment. regardless, keeping tabs on its effectiveness this week is pointless.

You won't know anything until Tuesday. That's one week - the full time for suggested treatment - in NYC. That's when we'll really know if this is working. Unofficially, we'll start getting a lot more anecdotal evidence, but no one's gonna feel better until you have a large scale, double blind trial.

I want it to work. I was reading the Stanford report and the French trial papers before the President ever uttered its name. My opinions on the orange man are widely known here, but for once he and I are in lock-step: I WANT HCQ TO WORK.

My friend is covid-19 positive, and another friend gave her HCQ. It was her personal prescription for auto-immune disease.

I delivered it to her doorstep on Saturday. It's day five, and her fever is gone, her cough is better, her fatigue remains. She was also prescribed the Z-pack but hasn't gotten it yet. Anyway, HCQ seems to be working, as her fever had spiked the day she got the medicine and has now gone away and stayed away.

The point is, it seems to work, but we have to know for sure.

Our health system has specifically stated it will only be prescribed for people with advanced symptoms

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Our health system has specifically stated it will only be prescribed for people with advanced symptoms

Does anyone know how long it takes until there is evidence that it is working? The studies won’t be done but if they’re giving this to 50 people and they all recover in a few days then I’d think that news would get out, no?

Hoping it works.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Our health system has specifically stated it will only be prescribed for people with advanced symptoms

I don't know who "our health system" is. Really. Doctors are ALREADY prescibing it liberally and are fully allowed to do so. The only thing keeping them from doing it is ethics.

Pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are taking measures, like only filling large prescription orders for customers with pre-existing prescriptions.

https://khn.org/news/why-hoarding-of...needs-to-stop/

So, I'm not sure what you're talking about but it's wildly inaccurate.

[Monticore]

My wife had a patient this week asking for HCQ as a preventative measure , my wife told her she was already on it for he RA.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

I don't know who "our health system" is. Really. Doctors are ALREADY prescibing it liberally and are fully allowed to do so. The only thing keeping them from doing it is ethics.

Pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are taking measures, like only filling large prescription orders for customers with pre-existing prescriptions.

https://khn.org/news/why-hoarding-of...needs-to-stop/

So, I'm not sure what you're talking about but it's wildly inaccurate.

Most doctors that I know are not "liberally" prescribing it. I will echo Pete's sentiment. No one is saying they aren't allowed to do it, they are saying that they generally should not be doing it.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

Does anyone know how long it takes until there is evidence that it is working? The studies won’t be done but if they’re giving this to 50 people and they all recover in a few days then I’d think that news would get out, no?

Hoping it works.

French study found results in 6 days. I think you can expect a week from start date to hear initial results, with full written results coming in the following week. Again, we aren't going to know anything for certain for a minute.

Everyone is jumping on this. A lot of people want it to work. I think some of the reporting on it is overtly pessimistic and biased. Some of it is responsibly skeptical. Some of it is dangerously optimistic.

The good news is that the drug is off the shelves and in people's hands. The bad news is its in the hands of a lot of people who DON'T have Covid-19.

those people are ****ing assholes.

I'm still praying it works.

[WhawhaWhat]

https://t.co/i4uOybDZRz

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) March 27, 2020

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

Does anyone know how long it takes until there is evidence that it is working? The studies won’t be done but if they’re giving this to 50 people and they all recover in a few days then I’d think that news would get out, no?

Hoping it works.

Does it only work on one who develop bacterial pneumonia, heard it might only be shedding the virus from as canal only reducing viral load there, would people have gotten better on their own without it, have people died because of it .

Few more million questions to ask.

[mililo4cpa]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I just assumed EVERYONE had the same mental image reading OH's posts.

Exactly! Even better example than mine lol....

[Hammock Parties]

Think this was posted already, but just heard a podcast that quoted a bunch of doctors stating taking Ibuprofen/Advil absolutely makes this virus deadly.

It accelerates it into pnuemonia.

DON'T TAKE IBUPROFEN

Does ibuprofen (sold under Advil, NeoProfen, etc.) make COVID-19 (coronavirus) symptoms worse? Dr. Keith Armitage, Medical Director, UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health, explains. #coronavirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/4HAOpWCxMR

— University Hospitals (@UHhospitals) March 24, 2020

[wazu]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

https://t.co/i4uOybDZRz

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) March 27, 2020

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by SupDock

Most doctors that I know are not "liberally" prescribing it. I will echo Pete's sentiment. No one is saying they aren't allowed to do it, they are saying that they generally should not be doing it.

of course most doctors aren't. but it IS being prescribed liberally. And the only people who can do that are doctors.

So... yes. Doctors are prescribing it liberally. I agree with your last sentence, but I think that's my sentiment, not Pete's. He specifically said "it will only be prescribed for people with advanced symptoms." And that is just categorically untrue, as it has already been prescribed for people with no symptoms. It has caused a shortage. The drug is sold out in the ENTIRE STATE of california. In a week.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has received multiple allegations of Michigan physicians inappropriately prescribing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine to themselves, family, friends, and/or coworkers without a legitimate medical purpose.

Prescribing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine without further proof of efficacy for treating COVID-19 or with the intent to stockpile the drug may create a shortage for patients with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other ailments for which chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are proven treatments.

Reports of this conduct will be evaluated and may be further investigated for administrative action. Prescribing any kind of prescription must also be associated with medical documentation showing proof of the medical necessity and medical condition for which the patient is being treated. Again, these are drugs that have not been proven scientifically or medically to treat COVID-19.

Michigan pharmacists may see an increased volume of prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine and should take special care to evaluate the prescriptions’ legitimacy.

Pursuant to Michigan Administrative Code, R 338.490(2), a pharmacist shall not fill a prescription if the pharmacist believes the prescription will be used for other than legitimate medical purposes or if the prescription could cause harm to a patient.

It is also important to be mindful that licensed health professionals are required to report inappropriate prescribing practices. LARA appreciates all licensed health professionals for their service and cooperation in assuring compliance in acting responsibly while continuing to provide the best possible care for Michigan’s citizens during this unprecedented and very challenging time.

https://wwmt.com/news/local/michigan...ibe-medication

[mililo4cpa]

Originally Posted by Bwana

If this goes on long for much longer, that's exactly what I'm going to look like. I will probably be regretting not getting a haircut when I had a chance.

My girlfriend was able to track down the girl that cuts my hair via Facebook....We asked her how she was doing (they shut down her shop last week), and she said she was fine but worried about money.

Long story short: She is coming over to my home to personally cut my hair this afternoon. Of course, in the essence of being safe, we grilled her on health, human contact, etc. and we feel pretty safe about it. On top of that, we are going to tip her very well, just to ensure that (a) she knows we appreciate it; and (b) maybe that little bit extra can alleviate a little bit of her concern

But what a god send as I'm about 3 weeks past due (I always procrastinate, then they shut down!). I'm excited for this!