***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.”

[TLO]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

IMO, yes.

I documented how shitty I felt for three weeks and my doc suggested I only go if I felt I absolutely had to.

But that’s just me, and I trust my doc more than I trust my wife lol.

But what's the line of "absolutely had to?" I feel like maybe I would have reached that point if I was in your shoes, experiencing what you were experiencing.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

LA could lose the 2022 Super Bowl if they don’t allow games to be played at the new LA stadium this upcoming season.

Generally the NFL requires a new stadium to be operational for a full year before allowing it to host a Super Bowl.

You’ve said some stupid shit, but thinking the NFL is going to take the SB from their Golden Child market is beyond stupid.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

Whoa.

Soooo....what's being done to ensure that will happen? And what's the timeline?
Just saying "we need to" doesn't give us any sort of useful information.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

LA could lose the 2022 Super Bowl if they don’t allow games to be played at the new LA stadium this upcoming season.

Generally the NFL requires a new stadium to be operational for a full year before allowing it to host a Super Bowl.

Certainly there's no reason at all to make an exception.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't know what people think it takes to process these tests but do you realize the amount of resources it would take to test 22 million a day?

A lot

Just get it done if that’s what it’s gonna take

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by TLO

But what's the line of "absolutely had to?" I feel like maybe I would have reached that point if I was in your shoes, experiencing what you were experiencing.

Trust me, there were a couple of times my wife and I really had some tough choices. We kept a journal daily of times/temps/symptoms on a scale of 1-10, and kept a close eye on my O2. Like I said, I really trust my doc, and a good friend is an ER nurse at Johns Hopkins. Her recommendations and thoughts were in lockstep with my doc.

So yeah, others may have gone. I have a friend that thought I was stupid for not going. We knew that 1) they wouldn’t treat me any different than what I was getting at home and 2) if the test was right and I didn’t have it, I was running a huge risk of getting it when I was already in bad shape.


After reading about how many people are dying at home, you bet your ass I feel fortunate every second that things worked out. Really been an eye opener.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by TLO

Nah I get that, but I'm saying if they just told me go home, I'm not sure I'd want to. I've heard too many stories of people going home and then the situation turns dire before they can get back to the hospital.

Well, if the amount of cases are above your capacity, you can't take everybody.

Triage. You try to heal the worst cases.

[limested]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

You’ve said some stupid shit, but thinking the NFL is going to take the SB from their Golden Child market is beyond stupid.

Just wait until tomorrow. I am 100% confident he will say something even more stupid than this.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

A lot

Just get it done if that’s what it’s gonna take

For some reason the America’s Not the Greatest Country speech from The Newsroom came to mind...

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Well, if the amount of cases are above your capacity, you can't take everybody.

Triage. You try to heal the worst cases.

THIS.

Huge factor in my case. I felt terrible but trusted my doc and the data we were keeping. Would have felt guilty taking a bed that someone else needed more than me.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

You’ve said some stupid shit, but thinking the NFL is going to take the SB from their Golden Child market is beyond stupid.

Already projecting no sporting events... even without fans... until 2021, as LA’s mayor did today is the definition of stupid shit.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

For some reason the America’s Not the Greatest Country speech from The Newsroom came to mind...

If that’s what it’s gonna take, ****ing figure it out

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

If that’s what it’s gonna take, ****ing figure it out

I agree, but for reasons we both know and will get us booted if we discuss here, it won’t.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TLO

Blood thinner?

Yes

Originally Posted by Monticore

My wife says that’s not uncommon for ICU patient who will mostly likely be bed ridden for a while to avoid blood clots not sure if that is specifically for covid.

Don't know she just said they are learning new things every day and alot of these new patients come in and their blood is thick and dark. This is something we have sort of discussed in this thread about all the clotting that is happening with covid.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Talked to my daughter tonight and she said they are now starting to give Heparin when they put covid patients in ICU

Originally Posted by TLO

Blood thinner?

This could be for a lot of reasons.

When patients are in the hospital they are at an increased risk of a clot because most are confined to the bed, which affects venous return. Blood pooling leads to an increased chance of clot formation. Active infection also increases that risk. There is a score called the Padua prediction score that is used to determine if someone needs anticoagulation. Additionally, when patients have sepsis they are at risk of a condition called DIC, where small clots form all over.

Usually a provider will use a low molecular weight heparin (Lovenox is the most common one) to provide prophylaxis because you don't have to dose it as frequently and the risk of a particular side effect is lower. However, in patients that are older or with worsening kidney function, heparin is often used.

If the patients are septic, their renal function will tank because their kidneys aren't getting perfused with blood (BP drops--no pressure, no flow), so the use of heparin in this case makes sense.

At the same time (and this is what makes managing these cases tough), such patients are also at an increased chance of a bleed. Fortunately, heparin has a cheap, plentiful antidote.