***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.”

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Monticore

They may be contagious even after the symptoms have come and gone as well so even "recovered" could pose a risk.

via GIPHY

[Donger]

Ugh, numbers starting to come in. Already at 13,200 new cases.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, the argument is whether they can go about their daily lives just because they aren't showing symptoms... and the answer is no, because without being tested, you don't know if they're carriers and possibly contagious.

True, but if the goal is an R0 at/below 1, there is a level of 'heightened and modified' daily life that can be resumed.

If you aren't showing symptoms but you ARE doing things like keeping up heightened levels of hygiene, avoiding prolonged close contact w/ others and keeping yourself away from at-risk populations, you can still operate at, what, 70% normal?

I just think too many people are acting as though there's NO distinction worth drawing between the openly sick (symptomatic) and those that are asymptomatic.

I still think one of the most fascinating things I've seen on this is the distinction between case progression and initial viral load. It seems more and more likely that people who get hit with this in a big wave at the front are wholly unequipped to deal with it and those are the folks who's bodies are prone to those cytokine storms where their body just goes into overdrive trying to catch up and they end up with horrifying outcomes.

People who get this from some kind of minimal contact w/ touching a handle with small amounts of virus on it and exposing themselves to low initial viral loads are believed to handle it very well. Those that are inhaling when someone sneezes in their face...well not so much there. That's the prevailing theory on healthcare workers as well - they're just taking a constant storm early on in their body's battle with it.

Asymptomatic carriers theoretically carry an equal viral load, but they don't actually expel/expose people as heavily IF they maintain those initial precautions (hygeine, etc...). Catching it from an asymptomatic carrier is likely to yield a less extreme outcome, in other words. Again, just based on information as we're processing it and of course over large numbers. There will undoubtedly be exceptions in both directions.

I think we miss the mark if we don't recognize some pretty key distinctions in how symptomatic vs. asymptomatic appears to be operating on the ground.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by O.city

The general pop hasn't the slightest clue about how to properly wear a surgical mask.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

True, but if the goal is an R0 at/below 1, there is a level of 'heightened and modified' daily life that can be resumed.

If you aren't showing symptoms but you ARE doing things like keeping up heightened levels of hygiene, avoiding prolonged close contact w/ others and keeping yourself away from at-risk populations, you can still operate at, what, 70% normal?

I just think too many people are acting as though there's NO distinction worth drawing between the openly sick (symptomatic) and those that are asymptomatic.

I still think one of the most fascinating things I've seen on this is the distinction between case progression and initial viral load. It seems more and more likely that people who get hit with this in a big wave at the front are wholly unequipped to deal with it and those are the folks who's bodies are prone to those cytokine storms where their body just goes into overdrive trying to catch up and they end up with horrifying outcomes.

People who get this from some kind of minimal contact w/ touching a handle with small amounts of virus on it and exposing themselves to low initial viral loads are believed to handle it very well. Those that are inhaling when someone sneezes in their face...well not so much there. That's the prevailing theory on healthcare workers as well - they're just taking a constant storm early on in their body's battle with it.

Asymptomatic carriers theoretically carry an equal viral load, but they don't actually expel/expose people as heavily IF they maintain those initial precautions (hygeine, etc...).

I think we miss the mark if we don't recognize some pretty key distinctions in how symptomatic vs. asymptomatic appears to be operating on the ground.

It is pretty amazing that there is still a lot we don't know about this thing, some of the smartest people in the world are still throwing mud at the wall seeing what sticks. Our instructions at work have changed almost daily the past 2 weeks.

[Jerm]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I see this ended well..

...and people wonder why this continues to blow up. Complete and utter morons like that being in charge and having to make critical decisions is a key reason.

All of us in Missouri are finding that out now with Parsons running the show...

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Donger

Ugh, numbers starting to come in. Already at 13,200 new cases.

We have more cases than Italy and Spain combined, we know where it's going.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Mecca

We have more cases than Italy and Spain combined, we know where it's going.

CFR at 2.3% Let's hope we don't go full Italy and Spain in that metric.

[Chiefs4TheWin]

Originally Posted by Donger

Ugh, numbers starting to come in. Already at 13,200 new cases.

Going to get worse before it gets better for sure.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Monticore

It is pretty amazing that there is still a lot we don't know about this thing, some of the smartest people in the world are still throwing mud at the wall seeing what sticks. Our instructions at work have changed almost daily the past 2 weeks.

Yeah - lot of 'best guesses' being made.

But we're getting more information and I still think most of what we're learning about the disease specifically is good news.

The fog is clearing just a little bit with every passing day. It isn't giving us concrete answers on how it will progress, but it gives us little glimpses into approaches we can take with it.

But there's been more brainpower thrown at this thing than anything that has come up in decades, if not longer. None of the gaps are for lack of trying. And I don't imagine we'll ever close up all of 'em. But if there are answers to be found, we'll find 'em.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Jerm

...and people wonder why this continues to blow up. Complete and utter morons like that being in charge and having to make critical decisions is a key reason.

All of us in Missouri are finding that out now with Parsons running the show...

I live in Missouri and don’t know what you’re talking about.

[Hammock Parties]

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by wazu

I live in Missouri and don’t know what you’re talking about.

Mainly that Persons is a boob that isn't qualified to have the job he has.....there is no lockdown in Missouri he's left it up to governors across the state.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Mecca

We have more cases than Italy and Spain combined, we know where it's going.

And 1/5 of the deaths. So where is it going?

[Jerm]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Mainly that Persons is a boob that isn't qualified to have the job he has.....there is no lockdown in Missouri he's left it up to governors across the state.

Yup and Missouri's numbers rise every day...it's going to be one of the next hotspots.