***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.”

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Donger

Why would we have food shortages?

Dude its been explained a million times.

Farm's have finite resources and can only support so many animals. Culling is already happening right now because again there is no DEMAND.

So in a couple of months we will be having serious food problems, especially in the meat section.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Donger

Why would we have food shortages?

We could have meat shortages. We won't have food shortages, though, outside of some remote areas.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I don't think anyone who thinks that's a good idea thinks it's a fun time. This entire situation sucks either way.

At some point, tough decisions are gonna have to be made I'd imagine.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BWillie

We could have meat shortages. We won't have food shortages, though, outside of some remote areas.

Why would we have food shortages?

[Mecca]

BWillie ate to many cheeze its while playing golden tee so you can't buy anymore ok?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Dude its been explained a million times.

Farm's have finite resources and can only support so many animals. Culling is already happening right now because again there is no DEMAND.

So in a couple of months we will be having serious food problems, especially in the meat section.

So, what's the problem? Are people getting sick or something, and can't process the animals?

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Donger

Why would we have food shortages?

culling
/ˈkəliNG/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
All
Ecology
Farming
noun
reduction of a wild animal population by selective slaughter.
"kangaroo culling"
the action of sending an inferior or surplus farm animal to be slaughtered.
"local areas affected by livestock culling"

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

It will do better than if all the population is prevented from going out.

I agree.

I've gone out multiple times each week since the lockdowns in Los Angeles began and I have to say, it's helped my peace of mind immensely. I don't mind masks and gloves and if those are required in order to open things back up, I'm all for it. I think the Coronavirus team has done the best they could, given this situation and while some of the guidelines have changed since early March, I think people have a pretty good handle on what to expect.

But the longer we wait to restart the economy and get people back to work, the more people will be permanently out of a job, which could lead to evictions and foreclosures, not to mention the shuttering of truly legitimate small business, not Ruth's Chris or the LA Lakers, but true Mom & Pops and Single Entity proprietorship's.

If masks (and gloves) are required to open businesses, allow the major sports to resume and even open Disneyland, so be it. I might not be "back to normal" but we need to get back to as much normalcy as we can and as soon as possible.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Donger

So, what's the problem? Are people getting sick or something, and can't process the animals?

I think its a matter of packing plants not having demand for animals (Places to eat being shut down mass event's etc)

and

The fact farmers because of demand have no were to sell their current adult stock so they are not breeding. They have to in order to protect their operations.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I agree.

I've gone out multiple times each week since the lockdowns in Los Angeles began and I have to say, it's helped my peace of mind immensely. I don't mind masks and gloves and if those are required in order to open things back up, I'm all for it. I think the Coronavirus team has done the best they could, given this situation and while some of the guidelines have changed since early March, I think people have a pretty good handle on what to expect.

But the longer we wait to restart the economy and get people back to work, the more people will be permanently out of a job, which could lead to evictions and foreclosures, not to mention the shuttering of truly legitimate small business, not Ruth's Chris or the LA Lakers, but true Mom & Pops and Single Entity proprietorship's.

If masks (and gloves) are required to open businesses, allow the major sports to resume and even open Disneyland, so be it. I might not be "back to normal" but we need to get back to as much normalcy as we can and as soon as possible.

Rep

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The real elephant here that isn't being addressed, until you solve the virus the economy is going to ****ed with or without a shutdown.

The economy is not returning if half the population is scared of catching something.

Or perhaps they will see that the half has gone out, things have not gotten worse and the economy is not tanking at nearly the rate as before. And perhaps then they will finally decide that it is okay to start to venture out. Not to mention that there will probably be some kind of vaccine at some point.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

I think its a matter of packing plants not having demand for animals (Places to eat being shut down mass event's etc)

and

The fact farmers because of demand have no were to sell their current adult stock so they are not breeding. They have to in order to protect their operations.

Okay.

1. At least 16 meatpacking plants are currently closed

As of April 29, at least 19 U.S. meatpacking plants and five processed food plants have closed due to a shortage of workers. An estimated 5,300 plant workers across the nation have been confirmed to be ill with the novel coronavirus. Many thousands more have stopped going to work, either because they are required to quarantine at home in the face of possible exposure to the virus or simply because they refuse to labor under what many say were unsafe working conditions.

[O.city]

If places start opening and shit doesn't go off the rails, people will slowly get back to normal.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by O.city

If places start opening and shit doesn't go off the rails, people will slowly get back to normal.

Pretty much, but the media is trying to hype it. Yet we still haven't seen hospitals in Florida and Georgia get overwhelmed or close to it yet. Of course there is a lag, but I think once a few more state open up and they dont see New York we will be back on pace for getting going again.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by O.city

If places start opening and shit doesn't go off the rails, people will slowly get back to normal.

I really don't think it'll be an all or nothing thing. There are some areas that will be fine. And the reality is there are probably areas that will see spikes and have to close things down again. The problem is you have no idea where that'll be. You're basically just spinning the roulette wheel and hoping it doesn't land on you.