***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.”

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't know if you guys missed it but the law was changed a few years back and insurance companies cannot deny you coverage.

As I look into it, it seems like the discussion about COVID as a pre-existing condition is largely coming in the context of the impacts of overturning the ACA. So I'll leave it at that.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't know if you guys missed it but the law was changed a few years back and insurance companies cannot deny you coverage.

You realize the aca was in the Supreme Court yesterday. If it’s struck down, bye bye preexisting condition protection.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Apparently you haven't ever had the pleasure of fighting with insurance companies. Their business model is to hunt for anything they can to deny you. Whether COVID will live out as one of those reasons I don't know, but it's not a surprise to me that some of them will try.

Yep.

I know for a fact that some insurance companies arbitrarily deny X number of claims, knowing that only a small percentage of people will fight back because it's so time consuming and frustrating.

For every one person that fights back and eventually gets paid, 9 people don't. They just pay the bill and move on.

It's free money.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

You realize the aca was in the Supreme Court yesterday. If it’s struck down, bye bye preexisting condition protection.

That's not necessarily true and this isn't the thread of politics so stop.

[O.city]

Insurance companies suck. Seriously, it’s a god damn shame and a scam

[TLO]

I spoke to a local physician here in town for a bit today. He said a lot of people come into the hospital are actually well enough to go home after a day or two, but they end up having to stay a minimum of 5 days because they are started on remdesivir.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

I spoke to a local physician here in town for a bit today. He said a lot of people come into the hospital are actually well enough to go home after a day or two, but they end up having to stay a minimum of 5 days because they are started on remdesivir.

Didn't they eventually figure out that remdesivir doesn't do much?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Didn't they eventually figure out that remdesivir doesn't do much?

It doesn't seem to have a huge impact for most people.

[TLO]

And now more great news from Operation Warp Speed ... Moderna has completed cases to initially assess if their vaccine effective to prevent symptomatic Covid.https://t.co/yVuU2sUSy3
#Success #OWS #Timing

— Scott W. Atlas (@SWAtlasHoover) November 11, 2020

[TLO]

Just one more great example of America's teamwork, innovation, and leadership in action ... in less than 48 hours from EUA, patients already being treated in South Dakota with Lilly's monoclonal @govkristinoem @realDonaldTrump #SavingLives #OWS

— Scott W. Atlas (@SWAtlasHoover) November 11, 2020

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Didn't they eventually figure out that remdesivir doesn't do much?

Originally Posted by TLO

It doesn't seem to have a huge impact for most people.

The data are conflicting. The original trial suggested a definite morbidity benefit (33% reduction in hospitalization length, which would be vital in surge). Data from SOLIDARITY did not demonstrate the same efficacy.

Five days of therapy are still recommended for patients with moderate-severe COVID, with ten days of therapy reserved for patients with severe disease, on mechanical ventilation, and/or ECMO per IDSA guidelines.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

Insurance companies suck. Seriously, it’s a god damn shame and a scam

United Healthcare's year-over-year profits more than tripled in Q1 this year.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

United Healthcare's year-over-year profits more than tripled in Q1 this year.

Yep.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

You realize the aca was in the Supreme Court yesterday. If it’s struck down, bye bye preexisting condition protection.

It won't happen but I am not getting into politics here.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

United Healthcare's year-over-year profits more than tripled in Q1 this year.

They are in business to make a profit.