***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.”

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Exactly

[Ninerfan11]

Originally Posted by TLO

WHO just got their funding cut from the United States. No more money for them...

Freaking awesome, good move

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by TLO

One of these things is not like the other...

Yeah they def contradict each other. I'm not sure anyone knows what is going to happen at this point. It's a damn shit show and guessing game is what it is.

[petegz28]

Okay, WHO talk is starting to feel political.......

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Yeah they def contradict each other. I'm not sure anyone knows what is going to happen at this point. It's a damn shit show and guessing game is what it is.

One is a mypoic view void of any reality. The other might be too much of the opposite.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I think he lawyered up the language. I think he’s talking about future funding. Money we will budget in the future is on hold.

I'm not sure if it's effective immediately or down the road, but he did say they were launching an investigation into the WHO.

I'd say the money has been cut off immediately, but I don't know that for sure.

[Monticore]

Are doctors aloud to go on strike down there?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by TLO

I'm not sure if it's effective immediately or down the road, but he did say they were launching an investigation into the WHO.

I'd say the money has been cut off immediately, but I don't know that for sure.

Could be both. He says the money is cut off immediately. But, we have already gave the WHO the budgeted money for the year.

[RustShack]

There is a big difference between what scientists think should happen, and what money hungry Americans will do.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by RustShack

There is a big difference between what scientists think should happen, and what money hungry Americans will do.

Very true which is why the President and his team need to come up with a solution that works for everyone. I think you'll see social distancing restrictions start to ease soon.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by petegz28

People are tired of being shut down. Rightly or wrongly you can only keep people locked up at home for so long. And that's without losing your job. We have million and millions of people losing their jobs every day. More and mroe business are closing their doors permanently. Parents have become parent\baby sitter\teacher. Kids have no place to go. Groceries are getting hoarded more and more. Looting and robberies are increasing in some of the larger areas like NY. And aside from NY\NJ, 48 other states don't have people dropping dead all around them and their hospitals overflowing.

I think it is wise to start talking about loosening up and to do it slow. The longer you wait to open things up the faster you're going to have to do it when you do. Know what I mean?

Yes, I do understand. My fear is that we're going to re-open places that have very few cases, and it's going to be like pouring gasoline on what was otherwise a small flame. There was talk at the press conference of businesses testing their employee's once per week? What kind of ****ing fantasy world is that? There's people out there that need tests and still can't get them. Even when they do get them, they take 9 days to get results. (Though this has vastly improved by many accounts)

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Yeah they def contradict each other. I'm not sure anyone knows what is going to happen at this point. It's a damn shit show and guessing game is what it is.

I ****ing hate this virus. The entire world has been turned upside down in less than 2 months time. Maybe Hog Farmer's thread about the comet breaking apart and crashing into Earth will come true too.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Are doctors aloud to go on strike down there?

If not they should crank it to 11

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

And what do you think will happen if we open up too soon and the virus starts spreading like crazy? Think ppl are going to be partying and buying up products like crazy?

**** yeah, we're going to be partying like it's all on sale for $19.99.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by RustShack

There is a big difference between what scientists think should happen, and what money hungry Americans will do.

By money hungry do you mean 20-30 million people out of jobs?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Are doctors aloud to go on strike down there?

Only if they are REALLY noisy.