***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.”

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The VP just said it was ok to do huge events. So there you go.

I didn't watch, but did he say to do it without masks?

[Discuss Thrower]

More testing of population not already identified as infected with C-19 = more cases.

More cases = CDC guidelines regarding reopening are breached.

At some point it would be nice if some posters here admit that reopening was never going to be feasible.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I didn't watch, but did he say to do it without masks?

He said follow whatever local officials have called for.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The VP just said it was ok to do huge events. So there you go.

Did they talk about sports at all? Or just random gatherings like weddings?

[KC_Connection]

The protests certainly weren't helpful to the pandemic, but I'd say the vast majority of this is the dumb ****s who just went on living their normal lives without social distancing and masks because their federal/state leaders idiotically told them it was okay to do so.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

I thought the briefing overall was quite informative.

What information did you learn?

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

The protests certainly weren't helpful to the pandemic, but I'd say the vast majority of this is the dumb ****s who just went on living their normal lives without social distancing and masks because their federal/state leaders idiotically told them it was okay to do so.

Broadbrush statement. I would argue the opposite. When restrictions here in my part in Cali initially began folks were still very wary. However once the protests, riots and marches became the norm with local mayors actually encouraging "your first amendment right to peacefully protest"......everybody said "**** it then" and began living normally. Now that the protests are finally showing some signs of growing old, folks are again preaching safety.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

While protests undoubtedly had an impact I imagine it is a very small minority. Most of these are due to reopening and the fact that once people heard their state were opening back up they went back to normal routines with not wearing masks or social distancing.

For example here in MO, the biggest outbreak is in the southwest corner in the Joplin, OK, KS, AK area and that has nothing to do with protests. It has to do with people thinking this is all a hoax.

I know that area very well and it's like the land that time forgot. Are we sure they even know about the pandemic going on?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I didn't watch, but did he say to do it without masks?

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Did they talk about sports at all? Or just random gatherings like weddings?

No they were asked why they are doing large events when the guidance is not to do that.

His reason: the 1st amendment

All I will say is all these large events like protests or other large events shouldn't be happening and are very bad during a pandemic.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I've been delivering for DoorDash and I've seen a lot of restaurants completely full with people of all ages. The employees are wearing masks but nobody else. Wal-Mart, Target, grocery stores, etc. same deal. It's not young people, it's everyone. Americans are idiots.

Only place different is Costco because they require masks to get in. I won't leave the house without one.

To be fair, it's kind of hard to eat with a mask on.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I know that area very well and it's like the land that time forgot. Are we sure they even know about the pandemic going on?

I have alot of family down there and the answer is definitely no they have no idea or it's a hoax lol

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Another thing worth understanding or considering is how people will have changed their behaviors based on the protests and lack of concern by the media towards them regarding the virus.

How many people that had nothing to do with protesting said to themselves they might as well go out more now? Or guess they don’t need to social distance as much anymore? Or businesses more likely to ignore guidelines?

Protests are a part of the story. And understated by the media. Agreed.

But this is also booming in rural areas.
Are you really isolating the spike to protests when the spike has been greatest in the southern belt?
You don't think it's a little coincidental that these spikes are occurring in states with looser reopening guidelines?
And young people crowding bars without masks is not because of the protest. That's a reach.
I also noticed how you used the word protest and not rally.

Protests are part of the story. Your wanting it to be almost the entire story and it is not that.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by TLO

I thought the briefing overall was quite informative.

It was a gross misrepresentation of reality.

[O.city]

The Joplin area outbreak is in factories

[Redbled]

So if the protests have slowed to a crawl we must have solved racism and police brutality again. That’s great news.