***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.”

[Ubeja Vontell]

So far so good as far as my family goes, which is pleasently shocking since I am talking 50ish counting the relatives.

What a strange world out there, it does remind me of movies.

We have had to go for food, but that's been it. I know this seems petty now but do miss my sports.

In a word.....worried. In two words.....seriously worried.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by F150

Let it loose, prove the doubters wrong and all their selfish interests.

You have GOT to be kidding, right?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

When leaders start dying is when problems are going to start

Not if their name starts with Nancy!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Donger

You want a non-doctor telling people what drugs to take?

Apparently, so do many others here on CP because this topic just keeps reappearing every freaking day, despite the fact that there has been ZERO evidence supporting its effectiveness.

It's like a broken record.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by Donger

But on Sunday Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top doctor on infectious diseases and a key member of the White House task force, was adamant there was nothing to suggest the medicine had any benefit against coronavirus.

“In terms of science, I don’t think we can definitively say it works,” he told CBS’s Face the Nation.

“The data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there’s no effect.”

On 21 March, the day after another nationally-televised Trump claim that the drug “looked promising”, Fauci was asked directly if it could be used to treat Covid-19.

“The answer is no,” he said.

"This is not a major threat to the people of the US and this is not something the citizens should be worried about right now..." Dr. Fauci 1/21/2020

Dr. Fauci is a bright man but he is far from infallible. I truly think he needs to be part of a bigger team of equals than be a singular lead

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Apparently, so do many others here on CP because this topic just keeps reappearing every freaking day, despite the fact that there has been ZERO evidence supporting its effectiveness.

It's like a broken record.

Yes, and they all have something in common.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by TLO

I think for people that are hospitalized, sure, why not. But we don't need the general public demanding scripts of it from their doctors.

Dude, that's not the way medicine and doctors work.

You can't just prescribe some random medicine to people, especially elderly people with underlying conditions, without serious clinical trials.

If you just give it to someone on diabetic meds or blood pressure meds or blood thinners, of which there are scores of different meds, without true clinical testing, you could end up with more dead than if you let this virus run its course.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by jdubya

"This is not a major threat to the people of the US and this is not something the citizens should be worried about right now..." Dr. Fauci 1/21/2020

Dr. Fauci is a bright man but he is far from infallible. I truly think he needs to be part of a bigger team of equals than be a singular lead

And he was correct when he said that on January 21. We had one case.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, and they all have something in common.

Yes, no background in medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, genetics, neuroscience and biology.

There's probably more but my fingers are tired from typing.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Dude, that's not the way medicine and doctors work.

You can't just prescribe some random medicine to people, especially elderly people with underlying conditions, without serious clinical trials.

If you just give it to someone on diabetic meds or blood pressure meds or blood thinners, etc. and so on, without true clinical testing, you could end up with more dead than if you let this virus run its course.

I 100% understand and agree with you. I think under the right circumstances, with the right patient, it has the opportunity to make some impact. I'm also fully aware that this is more than likely wishful thinking on my part. And of course doctors shouldn't be handing it out to people on metformin, with heart troubles, etc etc.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by Donger

And he was correct when he said that on January 21. We had one case.

Um, i think some would say the US had something to worry about but if you disagree, thats OK.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yes, no background in medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, genetics, neuroscience and biology.

There's probably more but my fingers are tired from typing.

There is.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by TLO

I 100% understand and agree with you. I think under the right circumstances, with the right patient, it has the opportunity to make some impact. I'm also fully aware that this is more than likely wishful thinking on my part.

Doctors shouldn't be guessing, period.

[Monticore]

Why would you waste a test on a Tiger when we are short on supply, not like he is riding the subway with his cough.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Um, i think some would say the US had something to worry about but if you disagree, thats OK.

That's why I bolded the important part: "right now". Like I said, we only had one case on January 21.