***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.”

[Donger]

(CNN)Most coronavirus infections are spread by people who have no symptoms, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in newly updated guidance.
It's one of the main reasons mask use is so important, the CDC said.

"Most SARS-CoV-2 infections are spread by people without symptoms," the agency said in a section of its website devoted to explaining the science of how to use masks to control the spread of the virus.

"CDC and others estimate that more than 50% of all infections are transmitted from people who are not exhibiting symptoms," it added in the guidance posted Friday.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...sars-cov2.html

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Redbled

My dad lives on Truman lake. He thinks it’s a hoax. I’ll be curious to hear the outcome of this meeting.

Shockingly I think it is going to pass. The vote was 7-1 but since it wasn’t unanimous on the first vote they have to vote on Monday. The people that showed and was against it all talked about this was infringing on their freedoms (I’m shocked).

[Redbled]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

As a random story, I helped to move an elderly relative into an assisted living center a few years ago. He was hospitalized so we had to move him without his involvement. We were at the assisted living center getting his furnishings set up and one of the nurse/orderly people came in and started talking to my wife.

She said, "He looks really good", which confused me because the relative hadn't been to the place yet. He was still in the hospital. But I thought maybe there was a photo involved or something. The woman chatted with my wife more and once again said, "He looks good". And my wife said, "That's not him. That's my husband."

WTF? I'm in my 50s and in pretty good shape. I was wearing a half-marathon shirt that I'd just run. And she thought I was moving in?

But the key lesson here is that maybe I can just show up at an assisted living facility and get a shot when the elderly residents start getting them.

Best post in this entire thread.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by tyecopeland

I hate that the article I saw reads as if the fact that there were 55 people there instead of the 50 limit was the problem.

Just in general, it seems to me that messaging has been one of the critical misses throughout this whole ordeal. There's no way of avoiding ambiguity in a situation like this as our knowledge grows and, in some cases, shifts over time. And I even understand the logic behind the "let each state figure it out for themselves" approach. But the problem is that it's resulted in a landscape where there isn't a universally agreed upon "authority" to tell us the current thinking on best practice, so every message gets muddled and distorted.

So yes, the case you're talking about is a problem. There's nothing magical about 50 vs 55, and an article that suggested that as the problem is off. The story should be something like:

• Capacity limits aren't going to completely eliminate the chance of viral spread, but they help to reduce damage in a scenario of a super spreader event (which this was).
• Masks aren't going to completely eliminate the chance of viral spread, but they help to reduce the chances and reduce the severity of infection.
• Physical distancing isn't going to completely eliminate the chance of spiral spread, but it helps to reduce the chances and reduce the severity of infection.
• Outdoor events don't completely eliminate the chances of spread, but they reduce it significantly.

All taken together, there's a good chance that having the wedding outside, with distancing between groups, with masks required, and a cap on attendees (though again 55 vs. 50 is negligible) would have reduced the spread significantly.

Regardless, my bigger point is just that 7 people died as a direct result of the wedding, and none of them were people who actually attended the event. That's why "if you're afraid, don't go" doesn't work. It's not the healthy people who go that are at risk, it's the unhealthy people who the attendees end up interacting with that bear the brunt of it.

[Redbled]

Originally Posted by stumppy

Yea, I mean really? At this point does anyone actually believe anything pete posts in here? Or waist their time following one of the links he posts?

I don’t have him on ignore but usually I just pass his posts by unless I just want a good laugh.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Regardless, my bigger point is just that 7 people died as a direct result of the wedding, and none of them were people who actually attended the event. That's why "if you're afraid, don't go" doesn't work. It's not the healthy people who go that are at risk, it's the unhealthy people who the attendees end up interacting with that bear the brunt of it.

I really can't believe that people don't know that this has an R0 of ~2.5. Maybe they do, and just don't understand what that means?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by neech

Good then stay in it if you're scared to go out.

I think you are confusing being scared about something ve taking precautions because you are knowledgeable about something.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Redbled

I don’t have him on ignore but usually I just pass his posts by unless I just want a good laugh.

Yeah, I gotta disagree with you there

[Mr. Plow]

Well, good news is my dad is doing really well. Was released from quarantine on Thursday afternoon. He's feeling good enough he went to eat with his golfing buddies today for lunch.

Bad news is my 13 daughter just came back positive from another source. She's doing well. Feels ok, up moving around and it looks like a head cold right now.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Well, good news is my dad is doing really well. Was released from quarantine on Thursday afternoon. He's feeling good enough he went to eat with his golfing buddies today for lunch.

Bad news is my 13 daughter just came back positive from another source. She's doing well. Feels ok, up moving around and it looks like a head cold right now.

Good to hear about your Dad. Your daughter will be fine. Just keep an eye on her breathing and fever levels.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Dinger probably spread the shit all over town cramming into his local big box. Climb off your high horse

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Dinger probably spread the shit all over town cramming into his local big box. Climb off your high horse

I wonder how many people he has killed each year not wearing a mask and spreading flu.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

I wonder how many people he has killed each year not wearing a mask and spreading flu.

Uh, 'scuse me???? Like, those people don't count because reasons. Yeah, as if!

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Uh, 'scuse me???? Like, those people don't count because reasons. Yeah, as if!

Don't push those loons. They will push for masks during flu season next even after a vaccine

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Redbled

My dad lives on Truman lake. He thinks it’s a hoax. I’ll be curious to hear the outcome of this meeting.

The deniers in here that think its BS that someone thinks its a hoax, need to grow up and quit neg repping and open their eyes. Poster after poster has had a run in with one or knows someone. We are all lying? Redbled lying about his Dad?

There are millions that think its a hoax. And why wouldn't they? The person they trust more than anyone in the world told them its a hoax.