***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.”

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by RunKC

[jdubya]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...n-15187085.php

Interesting stuff if true

['Hamas' Jenkins]

MO public and charter schools are officially closed for the remainder of the year, but can continue remote learning, per Gov Parson's PC.

[eDave]

blew right through 16K.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by jdubya

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...n-15187085.php

Interesting stuff if true

Strange

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

MO public and charter schools are officially closed for the remainder of the year, but can continue remote learning, per Gov Parson's PC.

Man how surprising.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

And my apologies, I'm far from a grammar Nazi, but I just cannot help myself here.

Them self's?

Your barking up the wrong tree.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by sedated

I don't think its anything other than the obvious. Poor people can't just stay home, and they likely don't have the best health insurance if any at all...not only to battle COVID if they get it, but to have been proactively treating the underlying conditions that make it fatal.

I believe Covid treatment is covered per the CARES Act.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by jdubya

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...n-15187085.php

Interesting stuff if true

There are a whole lot of "Ifs" for this to be true.

I can state factually, as it's posted everyday at our elementary school's pickup area, that attendance hovered around 98.5% for November and December.

We never heard a peep about anyone, children, parents or grandparents, that became seriously ill over the holidays.

One teacher in late February was tested for COVID-19, which came back negative, and that person was back to school teaching just a few days after the test results.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are a whole lot of "Ifs" for this to be true.

I can state factually, as it's posted everyday at our elementary school's pickup area, that attendance hovered around 98.5% for November and December.

We never heard a peep about anyone, children, parents or grandparents, that became seriously ill over the holidays.

One teacher in late February was tested for COVID-19, which came back negative, and that person was back to school teaching just a few days after the test results.

Here in NorCal I have had numerous conversations with folks who have said things like, "This years flu shot sure didnt help me any. I was sick as a dog for a couple of days last week..."
My own PMD advised me to get the shot back in December (i was late getting it) but I remember her saying "even though it doesnt seem to be helping very many people this season..."
Who knows? California should be ground zero for this virus but it is eerily quiet to date

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by lewdog

You might want to keep up.

Those are numbers that were stated in the news earlier-even Banyon used them and we often disagree. Many are also asymptomatic.

The Lancet published the infection/fatality rate last week showing that to be a very small percent. If you compare that to seasonal flu, the numbers aren't much different.

Are you saying The Lancet, a peer reviewed medical journal, is not credible? I thought it was the Holy Grail to folks like you.

Now the numbers have been revised downward, turning out to be not much different than the seasonal flu. Those first numbers we got that were drastically higher were with the mitigation put in place with the lockdown.

This created needless hysteria.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

MO public and charter schools are officially closed for the remainder of the year, but can continue remote learning, per Gov Parson's PC.

This is the right move. Schools are petri dishes.

I do not think we will be going back either. We have until May 4, but I will say the announcement will come April 24. Especially if the peak is not supposed to be until May.

[Bearcat]

via GIPHY

[eDave]

[TLO]

I wonder if the IMHE model will update today or no?

I was also curious about Gov. Parsons saying they are using their "own models" developed for Missouri. Can we get a peek at those?