***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 PAChiefsGuy

Yeah that's true. Fauci isn't an economist he is trying to fight this through an physician and immunologist's eyes. that's where Trump and his team have to make some tough decisions and find the right middle ground.



I just always believe it is important to remember economy will come back but when someone is dead there is no coming back from that.

I don't disagree in principle. It's just that there has to be a middle ground SOMEWHERE. Is all this economic damage warranted if one person dies from it? Sadly, no. What about 10 million? Definitely, yes.

But where is the answer between the two extremes?

Hell if I know.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I'll just throw a third way out there: while you can't shut it down forever and you can't let it run unchecked, perhaps a full shut down was needed to grasp the extent of the problem which can then be followed by more targeted shut downs so that you avoid a runaway pandemic while also providing targeted containment on the other side.

I think that's the hope for what the way forward will look like. Things won't be normal until there's a widely available vaccine, but hopefully we can get closer to normal once the initial surge is under control.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I'll just throw a third way out there: while you can't shut it down forever and you can't let it run unchecked, perhaps a full shut down was needed to grasp the extent of the problem which can then be followed by more targeted shut downs so that you avoid a runaway pandemic while also providing targeted containment on the other side.

"Targeted shutdown" sounds good but not sure how practical it really is. The only way to move forward is to identify some effective treatments until we get a vaccine. And put some hope into herd immunity to a large extent.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Exactly. We are being very reactionary in our response and justifiably so to a degree. But we cannot pretend there isn't a cost. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, right? "Shelter in place" cannot be the answer going forward after we get out of this phase.

While I'm not seeing the usual traffic on the roads, people in general aren't sheltering in place. Liquor store is like New Years Eve.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by petegz28

"Targeted shutdown" sounds good but not sure how practical it really is. The only way to move forward is to identify some effective treatments until we get a vaccine. And put some hope into herd immunity to a large extent.

There is a possibility you don't get a vaccine. We didn't get one for SARS, MERS, or HIV.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

"Targeted shutdown" sounds good but not sure how practical it really is. The only way to move forward is to identify some effective treatments until we get a vaccine. And put some hope into herd immunity to a large extent.

I'm not sure either. I know Fauci did say Trump and his team are working on plans to start easing social distancing measures soon. So we'll find out sooner rather than later what a 'targeted shutdown' is.

[Titty Meat]

Seems over the top but I'm good with it

https://www.newsweek.com/dr-fauci-am...luenza-1496772

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

There is a possibility you don't get a vaccine. We didn't get one for SARS, MERS, or HIV.

True but I think you get the point I am trying to make.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

I'm not sure either. I know Fauci did say Trump and his team are working on plans to start easing social distancing measures soon. So we'll find out sooner rather than later what a 'targeted shutdown' is.

Well as far as "opening up" I think you are going to have to start with things like theaters and restaurants not allowing more than 50 people at time and such. Gyms will probably have to stay closed. Amusement parks will probably stay closed. I think bars and restaurants are going to be an easy way to loosen things up and see how things go for a few weeks. Or something along those lines.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Seems over the top but I'm good with it

https://www.newsweek.com/dr-fauci-am...luenza-1496772

Well that could be said for just about any virus.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Well as far as "opening up" I think you are going to have to start with things like theaters and restaurants not allowing more than 50 people at time and such. Gyms will probably have to stay closed. Amusement parks will probably stay closed. I think bars and restaurants are going to be an easy way to loosen things up and see how things go for a few weeks. Or something along those lines.

I have no idea man and I'm not even going to try to act like I do know but your idea seems reasonable. Gyms are definitely going to take a big hit until a vaccine comes out. Stripclubs too

Here's a good video on what we can possibly expect. It doesn't sound good but it's better than what we currently got going on.

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/dr...en-81713733998

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Seems over the top but I'm good with it

https://www.newsweek.com/dr-fauci-am...luenza-1496772

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Looks like 7,000 less new cases today per worldometer, so that’s good.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

You made me do this...

NSFW:

Spoiler!

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Seems over the top but I'm good with it

https://www.newsweek.com/dr-fauci-am...luenza-1496772

It's hard to judge another man's resolve with an elbow bump...