***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.”

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

https://gfidaholaw.com/mandatory-flu...us-exemptions/

any religion? even the made up ones? do you have to prove that it is part of your religious beliefs?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by arrowheadnation

Oh and even better yet....if employers require it. Will be interesting to see how many people quit their jobs because of their own prideful stupidity. #hireatwill

Which is one reason a lot of employers are not requiring it right now. Keep swinging, bro....

[arrowheadnation]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That would probably be illegal simply on the basis of religious and medical reasons. Same way you can legally not be forced to take the flu vaccine. But hippies and stuff....

I would think privately owned business can tell people and their religious beliefs to pound sand or get the vaccine (sort of like no shirt, no shoes, no service)....the medical thing, I'm not so sure about. Would think those types would be the ones wanting to get the vaccine in the first place.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by arrowheadnation

I will laugh my ass off if they require it to enter stadiums, arenas, movie theaters, etc.

Won't change my life.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Monticore

any religion? even the made up ones? do you have to prove that it is part of your religious beliefs?

Google is your friend.

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=what+religious...+immunizations

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Just to watch you squirm.....

Pete, you've been wrong in this thread since the beginning. Not to mention elsewhere. Why on Earth would I be squirming?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by arrowheadnation

I would think privately owned business can tell people and their religious beliefs to pound sand or get the vaccine (sort of like no shirt, no shoes, no service)....the medical thing, I'm not so sure about. Would think those types would be the ones wanting to get the vaccine in the first place.

Well you shouldn't think so much unless you want to end up in court.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

Pete, you've been wrong in this thread since the beginning. Not to mention elsewhere. Why on Earth would I be squirming?

I don't know, why are you?

[arrowheadnation]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Which is one reason a lot of employers are not requiring it right now. Keep swinging, bro....

well that's why I said "if"....I can see some industries like the tourist and healthcare industries requiring it, maybe not, but we're in uncharted territory.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Google is your friend.

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=what+religious...+immunizations

religious exemptions for the win I guess.

t least 16 people in Texas with measles are linked to Eagle Mountain International Church,[2] which is a part of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and is described as "anti-vaccine" and "vaccine-refusing."
At least 21 people in North Carolina with measles are linked to Prabhupada Village,[3] a Hare Krishna community.
At least 158 cases of measles in Quebec[4] began in an outbreak that originally started when unvaccinated members of an anti-vaccine eugenics community group took a trip to Disneyland.[5]
At least 2,499 cases occurred in the Dutch "Bible belt" with at least one case of measles encephalitis and one death (a 17-year-old girl).[6]
Nearly 400 cases of measles in British Columbia have been linked to a religious group[7] called the Netherlands Reformed Congregation.
Over 500 people, mostly connected to Orthodox Jewish communities in Borough Park and Williamsburg, Brooklyn developed measles—the largest outbreak in the United States since the endemic spread of measles was eliminated.[8]

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't know, why are you?

I'm not. I have no reason to squirm. It's not like I claimed that last week's deaths were Thanksgiving backlog.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm not. I have no reason to squirm. It's not like I claimed that last week's deaths were Thanksgiving backlog.

I never claimed all the deaths were backlog....keep up, Donger.

And yes, you are

[Monticore]

Most Religions were created way before vaccines were ever developed , doubt it says anywhere they can't take vaccines specifically so it more of a cope out.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Dude, you can NOT be forced to take the flu shot. We have been over this already. The law provides for religious and medical exemptions. Our health system forces us to take the flu shot UNLESS, you have a religious or medical exemption. That is the law.

So yes, I can require vaccinations as an employer, unless they have a religious exemption.

Then they can either wear full PPE or get the vaccine.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

So yes, I can require vaccinations as an employer, unless they have a religious exemption.

Then they can either wear full PPE or get the vaccine.

That is accurate....you can even re-assign them as well.