***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.”

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Says their findings are partly false. Which means the claims are also partly true. I am not going to argue whether wearing a mask helps or not but I will argue that it is not the holy grail that means you can do whatever you want as long as you wear a mask.

It was ranked partially true because many of the claims are correct for mine safety or some industrial contexts. But mostly wrong when claiming masks are used the same way in the medical community or general public.

And the mine safety guy doesn't bring up any points that invalidate what most reasonable people already believe. Masks are not bulletproof, but they help contain droplets, and they are safe to wear by most even for long periods of time.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

You also see people without masks disregarding social distancing. Both groups are dumb, but one act is not necessarily causal to the other.

To me if you aren't going to socially distance then don't bother wearing a mask unless you know you're sick. That's just me.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

People can like it or don't like it but this is new norm.Same as the old norm and we arent going back.

Well, besides the cities that are going back because idiots can't follow simple guidelines in order to prevent a shutdown immediately after suffering through one.

[tyecopeland]

When one of my bus driving colleagues had the flu, in early january I think, she was allowed to keep driving but only if she wore a mask. So her doctor believed they helped before covid was really a thing.

[Strongside]

Today was the first day I can recall in JoCo where every person I saw in a business or out in public had a mask on.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Today was the first day I can recall in JoCo where every person I saw in a business or out in public had a mask on.

You get used to it. It's not mandated in my city, but it is in Denver, and there's a big halo effect. It's a lot easier to feel natural doing it when you're in the majority instead of the minority.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Today was the first day I can recall in JoCo where every person I saw in a business or out in public had a mask on.

I went to an event tonight where everyone was wearing one. Nobody cared... because it's not a big deal.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by petegz28

To me if you aren't going to socially distance then don't bother wearing a mask unless you know you're sick. That's just me.

It has always been about layers of protection.

Six feet apart is better than closer. Is it foolproof, No
Shorter exposure is better than longer. Is it foolproof, No.
Masks are better than no masks. Is it foolproof? No.
Being exposed to fewer people is better than being exposed to more people. Is it foolproof? No.
Symptom screening is better than not symptom screening. Is it foolproof? No.

I’m not sure how anyone can not understand this after 3 months. This isn’t new information any more.

If you are going to spend an hour in close proximity to someone who you don’t know what they have been doing in the last week, or even if they are running a fever, every public heath official is going to advise you to wear a mask.

If you can’t understand this, no one can help you. Good luck with your life.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by cdcox

It has always been about layers of protection.

Six feet apart is better than closer. Is it foolproof, No
Shorter exposure is better than longer. Is it foolproof, No.
Masks are better than no masks. Is it foolproof? No.
Being exposed to fewer people is better than being exposed to more people. Is it foolproof? No.
Symptom screening is better than not symptom screening. Is it foolproof? No.

I’m not sure how anyone can not understand this after 3 months. This isn’t new information any more.

If you are going to spend an hour in close proximity to someone who you don’t know what they have been doing in the last week, or even if they are running a fever, every public heath official is going to advise you to wear a mask.

If you can’t understand this, no one can help you. Good luck with your life.

I admire your perseverance but you're trying to hammer a nail into a slab of granite.

[neech]

[loochy]

Originally Posted by neech

Why bother? You don't care what he says anyway.

[neech]

Originally Posted by loochy

Why bother? You don't care what he says anyway.

Heh, true.

But for all the people who think they have to wear masks it gives them the finger.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Maybe lew or eDave can help here but I am looking at the AZ Dashboard

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/e...ards/index.php

It looks like deaths and hospitalizations are actually coming down.

Maybe. I see a steeper incline in the average high's than the decline of average lows. It's a volatile graph, and I may be interpreting it completely wrong, but those trend lines are clear enough. It's clear that it bounces back pretty hard after a down day. This weeks numbers should be interesting, but too early to indicate the effectiveness of our ordinance. And I believe the protests are reflected two weeks ago so they won't have as much impact going forward. NOTE: I don't believe they and the deaths are related though.



I don't know what to think about the hospitalization graph. The little summary I provide comes from the same source and it reads hospital utilization differently:

Hospital Utilization: COVID Hospitalizations are up about 2.6% (another all time high). ICU beds for COVID patients are up 0.5%. (Overall ICU bed usage went down from 88% to 86%). Ventilators in use for COVID dropped 2% for the 2nd day in a row.

EDIT:

Our data dashboard has been updated. Due to a reporting issue yesterday, more than half of today's newly reported cases would have been reported Monday. Today's reported new case number represents a two-day total. Please continue to take precautions. #SaferAtHome #MaskUpArizona https://t.co/oAvQzNUqCM

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) June 30, 2020

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by cdcox

It has always been about layers of protection.

Six feet apart is better than closer. Is it foolproof, No
Shorter exposure is better than longer. Is it foolproof, No.
Masks are better than no masks. Is it foolproof? No.
Being exposed to fewer people is better than being exposed to more people. Is it foolproof? No.
Symptom screening is better than not symptom screening. Is it foolproof? No.

I’m not sure how anyone can not understand this after 3 months. This isn’t new information any more.

If you are going to spend an hour in close proximity to someone who you don’t know what they have been doing in the last week, or even if they are running a fever, every public heath official is going to advise you to wear a mask.

If you can’t understand this, no one can help you. Good luck with your life.

Pete isn't changing at this point. Don't waste your effort typing to him.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by neech

Peddle your bullshit somewhere else. Everyone knows what you posted is months old and was the line put out in order to stop a run on masks.