***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

But...but....but.....

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

You've never answered one your entire time here

Completely wrong, but that seems to be what you do.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I hope you realize you are doing more harm than good by minimizing masks , i am sure what you are trying to accomplish, wearing masks during a pandemic is going to help more than hurt people, maybe it can be hard to quantify by how much , but just because you can’t comprehend this fact doesn’t mean you should be affecting people who could be helped.

Yeah, I can't comprehend it. The data shows clearly in Kansas anyway that counties with mask mandates saw bigger increases in cases than without mandates. If you read the article it states people wore masks in the counties that did not have mandates.

But you have to appeal to emotion here because you don't like the data.

Mask usage is another variable. Just because a county didn’t impose a mandate doesn’t mean that no one in the county wore a mask; by the same token, having a mandate doesn’t mean that everyone wore a mask.

Talk about not comprehending....

[Donger]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

And?

[O.city]

I wouldn’t take “self reported” studies as that the most accurate.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I hope you realize you are doing more harm than good by minimizing masks , i am sure what you are trying to accomplish, wearing masks during a pandemic is going to help more than hurt people, maybe it can be hard to quantify by how much , but just because you can’t comprehend this fact doesn’t mean you should be affecting people who could be helped.

Its a totally ridiculous argument. Its all about their identity. People can "believe" masks don't work, thats an opinion, everyone has one. But, thats not science.

Wearing masks helps slow the spread of the covid virus in our communities. That's a proven scientific fact.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by loochy

So August then?

If they can vaccinate that many paired with the rate we’re having infections, wel be there sooner than that

Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if we aren’t there by January at this rate

[displacedinMN]

State making money on 'sin taxes' during covid

Annie Santos headed to the store for some emergency supplies after a distressing message from her children’s school.

“We just got the e-mail from school saying, ‘We’re switching to distance learning,’ ” Santos said, laughing in the parking lot of the St. Paul Haskell’s. “So I’m like, I’m going to go get wine.”

Stressed-out parents are pouring themselves an extra glass. Workers stuck at home are breaking up the monotony with more frequent smoke breaks or punctuating the day with a post-work beer. And people seeking a little excitement — or avoiding casinos — are rushing to the lottery and pulltabs as a welcome distraction.

Minnesotans’ extra spending on those vices is adding up.

State revenue from the so-called “sin taxes” was nearly $37 million more than predicted in July through September. Tobacco tax dollars alone were $20 million more than anticipated, and collections from some types of gambling, like pulltabs and bingo, were double what was expected.

The growth in revenue in these areas comes as the pandemic has hurt many businesses, nonprofits and families across the state, leaving the state with a projected deficit of $2.3 billion over the two-year budget cycle.

It is not just Minnesotans who are indulging. Sin taxes are an area where pandemic-rattled state budgets appear to be holding strong across the country, said Brian Sigritz with the National Association of State Budget Officers. As governors and legislatures scramble for options to shore up massive budget gaps, Sigritz said he expects more states will consider increased sin taxes as well as legalizing sports betting and recreational marijuana. Minnesota has not legalized either of those, but the proposals have been floated in years past.

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House DFL Tax Committee Chairman Paul Marquart rejected the idea of increased taxes on tobacco, alcohol or gambling. He said he opposes any regressive taxes that hit poor people harder. His Senate counterpart, GOP Tax Chairman Roger Chamberlain, declined to comment. A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said it is too soon to weigh in on the subject, and the governor has not yet discussed raising those taxes. However, Walz and House DFL leaders support legalizing recreational marijuana.

As state leaders are trying to figure out how to weather the pandemic, so are Minnesotans. People are grappling with losing family members or their jobs and struggling with the emotional and logistical challenges of social distancing.

Lance Klatt, executive director of the state Service Station and Convenience Store Association, said he suspects the rise in lottery and tobacco sales is due to Minnesotans seeking a diversion during a year of deep uncertainty.

“When people are just stressed out, they turn to tobacco and alcohol to get through it,” Klatt said. “Maybe people said, ‘Hey, if I’m going to socialize, I’m going to do it at home and smoke a cigar or smoke cigarettes.’ ”

Customers at Twones Tobacco in St. Paul have told manager Emrah Kadric there are just fewer things to do so they are using their vape pens, chewing tobacco or other products more often. Kadric said he isn’t seeing a lot of new customers, but the usual people are buying more. He estimated sales have been up 20% during the pandemic.

Jordan Scott has been an on-and-off cigarette smoker. The Minneapolis resident started back up since he’s been working from home.

“It’s easier to go out for more breaks,” Scott said. He’s also buying more alcohol and “cracking that first one open a little earlier than before.”

However, he said his liquor store purchases have increased largely because he doesn’t go out to drink anymore.

“I haven’t gone out to a bar since they really all shut down in March,” Scott said.

From July through September, the state netted roughly $2.5 million more in alcohol tax revenue than expected.

“It’s a faster pace, there’s no doubt about it,” said Brent Gregoire, manager of the Haskell’s liquor store. “They are buying a little more, less frequently. They make a little bit bigger purchase so they don’t have to go out as much.”

People are not just spending more than anticipated on booze, tobacco and gambling. Sales tax revenue in general was 26% higher than predicted for July through September, with the federal unemployment insurance payments helping buoy spending, state economist Laura Kalambokidis said.

An extra $20 million in tobacco taxes and $2.5 million from alcohol sounds small when total state revenue for the year is about $21 billion. But the state is facing a multibillion-dollar hole for the current two-year budget and a bigger shortfall in the years after that, Kalambokidis said.

“What look like relatively small revenue sources all matter,” Kalambokidis said. “A $20 million program could be extremely important to quite a number of Minnesotans.”

The biggest revenue surprise, Kalambokidis said, was the jump in lawful gambling, which includes pulltabs, bingo and raffles.

State budget officials predicted they would get $9.5 million in tax revenue from that type of gambling in July through September. They got more than $21 million.

Pulltabs made up 94.5% of lawful gambling sales last year. While electronic pulltabs are growing in popularity, the old-school paper ones common in bars across the state account for most sales.

The popularity of lawful gambling has climbed over the past decade, said Gary Danger, a compliance officer for the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. They were preparing for March to be their biggest month ever, then halfway through the month, Walz shut down bars and restaurants. There was a pent-up demand when things reopened in June.

“Things have come back bigger than ever,” Danger said.

Like pulltabs, Minnesota lottery purchases have been growing for years. But 2020 has been a significant jump, state lottery Executive Director Adam Prock said. In July through September the state’s lottery sales were up 25% to nearly $181 million, compared to the same time last year.

Klatt, who represents the gas station and convenience stores, said they are likely selling more scratch-offs and other lottery games because people are not going to the casinos as much.

Prock said customers tell them it is a way to bring a little fun into another night at home.

“People say, ‘Well, my husband and I don’t do puzzles. We buy a few dollars in lottery tickets and it’s become our Friday night thing,’ ” Prock said. “We’re filling that niche right now.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Its a totally ridiculous argument. Its all about their identity. People can "believe" masks don't work, thats an opinion, everyone has one. But, thats not science.

Wearing masks help slow the spread of the covid virus in our communities. That's a proven scientific fact.

I see you suffer the same problem as he did. The article was about mask mandates. Not masks.

And assuming everyone wore masks in the counties that mandates them then you would be wrong about your scientific fact. Otherwise you twats might actually read what is said and not what you want it to say.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I see you suffer the same problem as he did. The article was about mask mandates. Not masks.

And assuming everyone wore masks in the counties that mandates them then you would be wrong about your scientific fact.

Have you changed your opinion on the effectiveness of masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

If they can vaccinate that many paired with the rate we’re having infections, wel be there sooner than that

Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if we aren’t there by January at this rate

They need to start shoving needles in some of these people starting yesterday.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

Have you changed your opinion on the effectiveness of masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

And Donger quickly moves the goal posts.....

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

And Donger quickly moves the goal posts.....

Not at all. I'm just curious if you still have the same opinion as you did back when all this started. Do you?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by O.city

If they can vaccinate that many paired with the rate we’re having infections, wel be there sooner than that

Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if we aren’t there by January at this rate

So you know that about 75% of people in the middle of the country will decline vaccination, right?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

Not at all. I'm just curious if you still have the same opinion as you did back when all this started. Do you?

Sure you are...