***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.”

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Feel like that's the challenge with trying to squeeze the entire nation into one model. If areas are peaking and flattening at different times, it's more difficult to circle one date on the calendar as the all encompassing end to social distancing. People nationwide aren't going to wait for Wyoming to peak and flatten before getting back out.

Agreed. Not sure how you go about it though. By city? County? State?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Feel like that's the challenge with trying to squeeze the entire nation into one model. If areas are peaking and flattening at different times, it's more difficult to circle one date on the calendar as the all encompassing end to social distancing. People nationwide aren't going to wait for Wyoming to peak and flatten before getting back out.

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Exactly.

The problem we have is there is no evidence of this or that approach to re-opening works. Virgin territory.

How do you keep people in an area from traveling to other "non-cleared" areas? How do you keep citizens who have been through it and have some immunity from going to that area? Are we going to go along willingly in giving up our constitutional rights of freedom of movement? Allow the government to track us, keep our health records? A huge can of worms will be opened....

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Feel like that's the challenge with trying to squeeze the entire nation into one model. If areas are peaking and flattening at different times, it's more difficult to circle one date on the calendar as the all encompassing end to social distancing. People nationwide aren't going to wait for Wyoming to peak and flatten before getting back out.

And the plan that the government has put out is based regionally, not nationally.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The problem we have is there is no evidence of this or that approach to re-opening works. Virgin territory.

How do you keep people in an area from traveling to other "non-cleared" areas? How do you keep citizens who have been through it and have some immunity from going to that area? Are we going to go along willingly in giving up our constitutional rights of freedom of movement? Allow the government to track us, keep our health records? A huge can of worms will be opened....

There comes a point that you have to quit being scared to go outside because something bad might happen. If we get through the peak we are going to have to start easing things back for a whole host of reasons. Otherwise you will start to die from the cure as opposed to the disease.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The problem we have is there is no evidence of this or that approach to re-opening works. Virgin territory.

How do you keep people in an area from traveling to other "non-cleared" areas? How do you keep citizens who have been through it and have some immunity from going to that area? Are we willingly giving up our constitutional rights of freedom of movement? Allow the government to track us, keep our health records? A huge can of worms will be opened....

I think at the end of April you keep travel restrictions in places that have a certain level of infection and where its not an issue you ease restrictions and tell high risk people to continue to shelter in place. You dont just open the flood gates.

Somewhat of a Sweden model.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by petegz28

There comes a point that you have to quit being scared to go outside because something bad might happen. If we get through the peak we are going to have to start easing things back for a whole host of reasons. Otherwise you will start to die from the cure as opposed to the disease.

What you think is going to happen when people start getting all these stimulus checks on top of there unemployment and $600 a week extra?

Its going to get interesting.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I think at the end of April you keep travel restrictions in places that have a certain level of infection and where its not an issue you ease restrictions and tell high risk people to continue to shelter in place. You dont just open the flood gates.

Somewhat of a Sweden model.

This is reasonable. Expecting things to stay as is another 7 weeks is not.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Donger

And the plan that the government has put out is based regionally, not nationally.

What plan is that?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I think at the end of April you keep travel restrictions in places that have a certain level of infection and where its not an issue you ease restrictions and tell high risk people to continue to shelter in place. You dont just open the flood gates.

Somewhat of a Sweden model.

We have a different form of government than Sweden. The Governors decide in their state, not the President. If the governors don't agree with whatever the President is planning, the plan is dead in the water.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

What plan is that?

It was released about a week ago and posted here.

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

I'm not your canary

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

My stone sales have been better than in past years for the month of April. Normally it picks up the last week of April but people are staying home and want something to do. I'm delivering 3 boulders today.

80% of people aren't covering their face though which is annoying. I do whenever I know I have to interact with a customer. If I have to go in a store I'm covered.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Donger

It was released about a week ago and posted here.

Does your boyfriend enjoy when you talk in circles?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Does your boyfriend enjoy when you talk in circles?

I'm not. It was. I'm trying to find it.

[Donger]