***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.”

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That's the lesson to take away from all of this shit. I think it's time to bring the manufacturing of our medical devices and pharmaceuticals back to this country as a concern over national security.

Yeah.

Emerging from economic downturns often requires a catalyst. If you're lucky it doesn't demand a war.

But what could help us out in a BIG way is turning to our own industrial base to re-establish supply chains for a great deal many items we have farmed out over the last couple of decades.

I'm not saying we need to ensure that barbies and toy cars need to be made here, but pretty much anything we have contemplated having a 'strategic reserve' of - we should really be capable of producing en mass within our shores.

[Mecca]

I picture this guy as Big Daddy..

[Pants]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That's the lesson to take away from all of this shit. I think it's time to bring the manufacturing of our medical devices and pharmaceuticals back to this country as a concern over national security.

pete, do you really think it's as simple as that?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Thanks for reminding me my Oktoberfest trip to Munich is probably not gonna happen.

Octoberfest is for tossers and sheep shaggers......

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Not to mention they produce something like 80% of all pharmaceuticals or the raw materials to make those pharmaceuticals.

Yeah and that's something that needs to be addressed ASAP. We need to produce that here in the US. The fact the little sawed off pecker head over in China was threatening to withhold meds to the US, should have been a huge wakeup call.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Eh - you'd have just had the EU 80 years earlier and hubbed out of Berlin instead of Brussels.

The idea that Europe would've just become one giant "Greater Germany" is a complete fiction. They'd have instilled some sort of top-down imperial oversight with the respective world leaders maintaining their titles and most of their authority. FFS, they were all related. Wilhelm, George and Nicholas were cousins - you think they'd have been put on a wall and shot?

The Nazi's never come to power, the Soviet Union never happens (Nicholas was bending more towards Democracy and had approached Wilson regarding democratization efforts) and the history of Britain and France probably doesn't change substantially.

There's no argument in favor of the Germans winning WWII - but there are a bunch of REAL good arguments in favor of them winning WWI. There are plenty against it as well, but I don't think there's a clear answer here. Especially had they been able to effectuate a knockout blow early in the campaign rather than bleed Europe and Russia white for 4+ years.

We'd also likely have better beer.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Pants

I kinda wish they had won WWI sometimes. Don't you?

The Office Dwight GIF from Theoffice GIFs

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Pants

pete, do you really think it's as simple as that?

Nothing is ever as simple as we would like it to be but that doesn't mean we can't make significant steps in that direction.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Pants

pete, do you really think it's as simple as that?

Hey lets bring all manufacturing to USA so prices of products can triple after so many Americans lost their jobs!!!

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Eh - you'd have just had the EU 80 years earlier and hubbed out of Berlin instead of Brussels.

The idea that Europe would've just become one giant "Greater Germany" is a complete fiction. They'd have instilled some sort of top-down imperial oversight with the respective world leaders maintaining their titles and most of their authority. FFS, they were all related. Wilhelm, George and Nicholas were cousins - you think they'd have been put on a wall and shot?

The Nazi's never come to power, the Soviet Union never happens (Nicholas was bending more towards Democracy and had approached Wilson regarding democratization efforts) and the history of Britain and France probably doesn't change substantially.

There's no argument in favor of the Germans winning WWII - but there are a bunch of REAL good arguments in favor of them winning WWI. There are plenty against it as well, but I don't think there's a clear answer here. Especially had they been able to effectuate a knockout blow early in the campaign rather than bleed Europe and Russia white for 4+ years.

It might have. It might not have. I don't second-guess history.

Although, I remember once in history class in high school, and the idiot "teacher" asked, "Donger, what do you think caused WWII?" I looked up briefly, said "WWI" and went back to doodling.

[SuperBowl4]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

The Office Dwight GIF from Theoffice GIFs

Obsessed with this actor from the office are ye?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Hey lets bring all manufacturing to USA so prices of products can triple after so many Americans lost their jobs!!!

Do you just get off on being a dickhead or what? No one said ALL manufacturing. And there are ways to deal with costs. Please make good on your word an put me on iggy. Or are you just going to threaten to beat my ass again?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Yeah and that's something that needs to be addressed ASAP. We need to produce that here in the US. The fact the little sawed off pecker head over in China was threatening to withhold meds to the US, should have been a huge wakeup call.

Look out now, PAToughGuy might tell you how stupid you are in saying this.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Do you just get off on being a dickhead or what? No one said ALL manufacturing. And there are ways to deal with costs. Please make good on your word an put me on iggy. Or are you just going to threaten to beat my ass again?

I never threatened you, it was a joke. Also last post was just me being humorous. Stop being so sensitive.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I saw someone that said "hey, y'know all that US debt that the Chinese hold? Tell 'em to **** themselves...."

I mean, I know in my heart of hearts that this is wildly simplistic and ultimately not a real answer for a variety of reasons. I mean, the major reason being that we had ostensibly told them to go **** themselves WELL before this. If China decided to call all their notes due, we'd have just told 'em "nah, you can come take it..."

But still - it's a cathartic thought.

Ultimately China had better tread real lightly for the foreseeable future. It wouldn't take much of a catalyst for the whole world to simultaneously decide that a regime change is in order. At this point even Russia wouldn't bother stepping in the middle.

I’m no expert but I think the Fed owns more debt than China. I think Japan does too. Doing something that creates uncertainty in the stability of the US promise to pay its debts (especially when it’s less than 5% of what’s held) probably wouldn’t work. Might make it harder and more expensive to borrow all that sweet infrastructure money.

But, again, I’m no expert.