***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.”

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Donger

Based on what numbers?

That's a very good question Donger and honestly I don't have the numbers to back it up. I know our President has all the numbers from an economic and health side so hopefully he is making the right decision when he says the country will ease restrictions soon.

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

I get it. He can't make that money that is lost during the past month ever but my point remains he is alive and he will have the opportunity to make more money once the economy gets going again. If social distancing wasn't put into place his restaurant wouldn't be getting much business anyway. Most people would be too scared to go.

It just sucks all around but you gotta play with the cards you are dealt.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That's not exactly what he said.....

I was speaking to a larger question. I think anybody suggesting opening everything back up in two weeks is saying '**** it'. That's just my opinion, of course. And it is non-political.

Then again, I've been working this entire time, and don't have the kind of cabin fever that the other 70% of the populace has. I get why people are getting antsy.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Donger

Based on what numbers?

I'll go with numbers in the 70s. It's going to be nice out for the next week.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I was speaking to a larger question. I think anybody suggesting opening everything back up in two weeks is saying '**** it'. That's just my opinion, of course. And it is non-political.

Then again, I've been working this entire time, and don't have the kind of cabin fever than the other 70% of the populace has. I get why people are getting antsy.

Fair enough, and yes that would be reckless to say the least. However it does seem the majority don't understand there can be a middle ground somewhere. I see it every day in this thread.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I'll go with numbers in the 70s. It's going to be nice out for the next week.

Ambient temperature?

[Setsuna]

Jacksonville is trailblazing. I'm not personally gonna go to the beach because I'm severely out of shape. But I'm glad the kids get to do so.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Fair enough, and yes that would be reckless to say the least. However it does seem the majority don't understand there can be a middle ground somewhere. I see it every day in this thread.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm having a hard time finding the middle ground.

Even WITH the guidelines in place, there are still a LOT of people out running around, not wearing masks, not distancing. People are already acting reckless. Lots of reasons why, and that's for another thread.

We saw yesterday in Florida thousands on the beach in JAX within 30 minutes of the order being lifted.

I'd be shocked if people don't take advantage of the situation when the opportunity presents itself. Give an inch, they'll take a mile. Then we're right back to February, and the late March/early April is really gonna suck this time.

As if 37k dead didn't suck enough.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

That's a very good question Donger and honestly I don't have the numbers to back it up. I know our President has all the numbers from an economic and health side so hopefully he is making the right decision when he says the country will ease restrictions soon.

I get that people want, maybe need, a date. But the date should be based on numbers, not desire.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Donger

I get that people want, maybe need, a date. But the date should be based on numbers, not desire.

I agree and I think our President knows this and will be very careful easing restrictions.

[Spott]

Originally Posted by Setsuna

Jacksonville is trailblazing. I'm not personally gonna go to the beach because I'm severely out of shape. But I'm glad the kids get to do so.

I used to go the beach all the time, but having a pool in the backyard kind of killed my desire to drive to Jax Beach for the day and then have to clean all the sand out of my car when I get back.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

I agree and I think our President knows this and will be very careful easing restrictions.

It's up to the governors, really.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

It definitely does suck.

However, he's still alive. He can make that money back once the economy gets going again. Meanwhile if social distancing wasn't put into place countless more people would have died. There's no coming back from that.

Its definitely time to start easing the social distancing restrictions though.

How do you come up with "countless"?

You do know we all are going to get this sooner or later and almost all of us will not need to even go to the doctor. The SIP is to slow the rate of spread so hospitals arent overloaded all at once. Meanwhile a 22 trillion dollar economy is shut down and folks are losing their livelihoods daily. No bueno

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by jdubya

How do you come up with "countless"?

You do know we all are going to get this sooner or later and almost all of us will not need to even go to the doctor. The SIP is to slow the rate of spread so hospitals arent overloaded all at once. Meanwhile a 22 trillion dollar economy is shut down and folks are losing their livelihoods daily. No bueno

You don't think social distancing has saved lives and helped our health care system from not being overrun?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by jdubya

How do you come up with "countless"?

You do know we all are going to get this sooner or later and almost all of us will not need to even go to the doctor. The SIP is to slow the rate of spread so hospitals arent overloaded all at once. Meanwhile a 22 trillion dollar economy is shut down and folks are losing their livelihoods daily. No bueno

The estimates of deaths without mitigation was between 1 and 2.2 million. So no, not countless.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

You don't think social distancing has saved lives and helped our health care system from not being overrun?

It`s definitely helped for sure but stopping this economy is unsustainable. I was just questioning "countless". We dont really know how many lives may or may not have been saved. It`s based on models which are about as accurate as I am when throwing a baseball with my foot. I think our CIC knows this economic shutdown is unsustainable for much longer so we are going to have to get back to work very soon and learn to deal with this new virus