***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.”

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There's a big difference in saying that we can't have mass gatherings until there's a vaccine vs. saying that we're keeping all lockdown measures in place.

Saying "mass gatherings" can't take place until there is a vaccine... and again an effective/scalable vaccine may be YEARS away or may never happen... permanently eliminates large scale sporting events with fans, graduation ceremonies, movie theaters, concerts, Broadway shows... just to name a few.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

How much of this is due to increased testing?

no idea.


it's kinda irrelevant. there is a percentage that is going to die. thats going to make us have many more deaths (which is the point in our conversation, right?)

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

At what point do we know enough?

Not up to me or you to make that call I would assume.

[mr. tegu]

To be clear, France has said they’ve found it from December. The Chinese article even referenced the interview the doctor gave to the local media in France. This is huge news if true.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...ron-latest/amp

Speaking to BFM TV, the French physician said: "We’ve reanalysed all negative tests on people who were diagnosed with pneumonia.

"Of the 24 patients, we found one who resulted positive to COVID-19 on December 27 when he was taken to our Avicenne Hospital."

Asked again to confirm whether the samples matched results to the coronavirus tests, Prof Cohen once again confirmed his diagnosis.

He continued: "Yes, it matched. We’ve controlled twice and it matched again, so we have COVID-19 in December."

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Like I said it is happening. You said it wasn't. Shitty banks or not, it is happening.

actually what i said was no bank that has offered (and i havent taken them up) has said that.


THEN i looked up several banks and none of them were that way...

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DaFace

For those of you making the "economic damage is worse than the deaths" argument, out of curiosity is it due to the fact that this mostly impacts old people? In other words, if this were primarily killing kids (in identical numbers), would that change your view? Or is it all the same?

(Not judging - just trying to wrap my mind around where the argument really lies.)

It's obviously not the same, it sounds crude but the fact it mainly impacts older people is important to factor in.

But I think no matter who it's impacting when its trending at somewhere around killing .03% of the population you have to start doing math to figure out which is worse. Especially when that number drops to arounds .02% outside of NYC

[kgrund]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Freezing debt needs to be clarified. Places like banks are "freezing" or as they say deferring payments for 3 months but they are not adding 3 months to the end of your loan. They are expecting 4 months worth of payments come month 4.

No that is not how loan deferments work. They will push back your next due date by three months. You will not be required to pay the three months of scheduled payments skipped only the interest that accrued over the period. They are effectively adding three months to the term of your loan.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by kgrund

No that is not how loan deferments work. They will push back your next due date by three months. You will not be required to pay the three months of scheduled payments skipped only the interest that accrued over the period. They are effectively adding three months to the term of your loan.

I literally just posted a CNBC article stating that is not always the case. But whatever.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by DaFace

For those of you making the "economic damage is worse than the deaths" argument, out of curiosity is it due to the fact that this mostly impacts old people? In other words, if this were primarily killing kids (in identical numbers), would that change your view? Or is it all the same?

(Not judging - just trying to wrap my mind around where the argument really lies.)

100% Old people should be sheltered in place. But people don't seem to want to admit people take Risks every day in their job. And some people are willing to take the RISK of getting it.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

100% Old people should be sheltered in place. But people don't seem to want to admit people take Risks every day in their job. And some people are willing to take the RISK of getting it.

I've actually been a bit surprised at how many older people I see out and about at stores etc...

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

100% Old people should be sheltered in place. But people don't seem to want to admit people take Risks every day in their job. And some people are willing to take the RISK of getting it.

What is your cutoff for old people, 50? 60? 70?

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

whats the point of this post?


i totally dont understand it.

People get this and survive.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

100% Old people should be sheltered in place. But people don't seem to want to admit people take Risks every day in their job. And some people are willing to take the RISK of getting it.

Sure, but that's not really how it works. My grandfather has significant COPD (he's 89), and my grandma still has to go to the store to get groceries for them even though he's staying home. She wears a mask and gloves, but it's not an N95 or anything.

He's had a good life, so if your view is that old people are less deserving of protection than kids, I can get that in a very harsh way. But there's no question that he'd be at a huge risk if this thing were just allowed to spread even though he never leaves his house.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by stevieray

People get this and survive.

thats not anything everyone doesnt already know.


and really had nothing to do with lew's post

[Redbled]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

no bank that offered deferred payments have said that. i havent taken them up on it but they all told me it would be added to the end of the note.

I was told by my bank that it was up to the investor who held the note. Could be at the end could be asked for in 3 months. Seemed super weird.