***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.”

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

This is vital information. . . .

They should hang that picture on the capital buildings where people are protesting, it would probably hold the average one for about 20 minutes.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Essential, in this particular era, is a loosely defined term of art, more than a clinical description.

Think of it more 'not purely or predominantly, nor necessarily, for the purposes of social congregation' rather than 'imperative for survival.'

Bars and gyms, not essential. Liquor stores and outdoor exercise, essential.

Lol. Ain't that the truth.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Florida brings the lolz...

The beaches and parks will be open for essential activities only, which per Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) executive order include walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming and surfing as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

I never knew surfing, swimming, fishing and hiking were an essential activities...

If the WWE is an essential business, why wouldn't the governor view those beaches as "essential". We have no state tax. All of our state revenue is raised from tourism and some oil. But, mostly tourism.

Florida is somehow both closing late and opening early during this outbreak. Even after we now know that letting those spring breakers on the beaches caused infections all over the USA when they went back home, we still havn't learned that lesson. Same thing is going on with Disney, Universal, Sea World etc are all figuring out how to open and follow social distancing guidelines. When they get a plan, the governor is going to declare them "essential" business's.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Mecca

They should hang that picture on the capital buildings where people are protesting, it would probably hold the average one for about 20 minutes.

You mean at the POLITICAL PROTEST at the center of POLITICAL POWER?

What kind of conversation are you itching for here, Mecca?

[Mecca]

https://www.huffpostbrasil.com/entry...f6e?ri18n=true

I enjoy when a countries president fires a health official for not downplaying stuff..I'd like to give a quick newsflash to these dudes, the virus does not give a rats ass about your politics, please stop acting like party affiliation matters, thank you.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

You mean at the POLITICAL PROTEST at the center of POLITICAL POWER?

What kind of conversation are you itching for here, Mecca?

A simple conversation about how people are ****ing dumb.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Florida brings the lolz...

The beaches and parks will be open for essential activities only, which per Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) executive order include walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming and surfing as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

I never knew surfing, swimming, fishing and hiking were an essential activities...

The same thing came up in a DC thread, they're probably better described as "safe" activities. The definition of the word "essential" is certainly being bastardized throughout this ordeal.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Lol. Ain't that the truth.

Yeah, it is. Don't know what's particularly LOL about it, though.

Social distancing is the aim, not inactivity. If people can be active and still socially distancing, it's another weapon in the arsenal to achieve overall compliance.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Yeah, it is. Don't know what's particularly LOL about it, though.

Social distancing is the aim, not inactivity. If people can be active and still socially distancing, it's another weapon in the arsenal to achieve overall compliance.

I think it's LOL because we started there and then they ended up closed because average person is a moron that doesn't know how to listen.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Yeah, it is. Don't know what's particularly LOL about it, though.

Social distancing is the aim, not inactivity. If people can be active and still socially distancing, it's another weapon in the arsenal to achieve overall compliance.

No need to get all testy. Just cause I'm laughing at something doesn't mean you have to.

I'm with you as far as social distancing. I just hope everyone is careful out there. It sounds good in theory but lets see how many people actually practice it when they are out.

It's just funny, to me at least, how the definition of 'essential' has changed so much during this pandemic. It's a ****ing joke if you ask me.

essential
[əˈsen(t)SHəl]
ADJECTIVE
absolutely necessary; extremely important.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Mecca

They should hang that picture on the capital buildings where people are protesting, it would probably hold the average one for about 20 minutes.

Stop

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Florida brings the lolz...

The beaches and parks will be open for essential activities only, which per Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) executive order include walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming and surfing as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

I never knew surfing, swimming, fishing and hiking were an essential activities...

Exercise is not an essential activity?

[PAChiefsGuy]

Anyway it's great to see the country slowly opening up. Hopefully everyone is careful and follows the guidelines. That happens and I think we will be fine.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

If the WWE is an essential business, why wouldn't the governor view those beaches as "essential". We have no state tax. All of our state revenue is raised from tourism and some oil. But, mostly tourism.

Florida is somehow both closing late and opening early during this outbreak. Even after we now know that letting those spring breakers on the beaches caused infections all over the USA when they went back home, we still havn't learned that lesson. Same thing is going on with Disney, Universal, Sea World etc are all figuring out how to open and follow social distancing guidelines. When they get a plan, the governor is going to declare them "essential" business's.

If the state can only continue to operate from revenue from those things doesn’t that kind of make them essential?

[Mecca]

The WWE is running with no fans so how is that helping the state?