***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.”

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My personal opinion is that American society needs to move forward with plans that don't include a vaccine.

Social distancing should continue to play a huge role along with staggering children at school in such a way that the kids still spend time in classrooms with their teachers at 1/3 or 1/2 capacity as well as other safeguards which should include mandatory masks in public spacing and the recommendation of gloves.

And if people want to work or participate in public gatherings (concerts, sporting events, etc.), they should be allowed to do while following strict guidelines.

Relying on a vaccine that may never come will only prolong the suffering felt by all Americans, not just those that contract the virus.

I think we’ll end up woth a vaccine by September for health care workers and elderly. Manufacturing it for everyone is gonna take a while.

[Monticore]

Dealing with Covid patients can be extremely stressful , physically and mentally draining , i don’t know how they are able to do it at this pace for much longer , if it number even stay the same as we open up i could see some of them cracking.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by O.city

I think we’ll end up woth a vaccine by September for health care workers and elderly. Manufacturing it for everyone is gonna take a while.

I don't.

It's one thing to create the vaccine. That's fine and dandy.

But to rush it to market could be absolutely devastating, especially considering the fact that this virus is disproportionately killing the elderly, most of whom already have underlying conditions and are taking numerous medications in order to survive.

If it's rushed to September, the results could be far more catastrophic than the virus itself.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

China found that out early on and alot of the Asian countries are now removing the infected person from the household into a quarantine only location. We should be doing that as well.

Uh, this is America, dude. That ain't happening.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

It’s just such a big damn country, even as connected as we are.

Like here in our area, there hasn’t been a new case in I believe 10 days now. It’s hard for people in rural areas woth zero cases to feel that way

Yeah I get it I live in a rural town. There was a shit ton of people out yesterday and hardly anyone wearing masks again.


Maybe instead of having a Live PD show they can do a Live Covid Unit show and maybe that would get their attention. I should sell that idea

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't.

It's one thing to create the vaccine. That's fine and dandy.

But to rush it to market could be absolutely devastating, especially considering the fact that this virus is disproportionately killing the elderly, most of whom already have underlying conditions and are taking numerous medications in order to survive.

If it's rushed to September, the results could be far more catastrophic than the virus itself.

We didn’t have to start from scratch on this one. The Oxford team is already pretty far along in theirs at this point. The rna ones are interesting but less researched at this point so that may take some time.

But they’ve never had the incentive to do one like they do now and it’s all hands on deck. Unless this virus burns out or something they’ll have one sooner than later

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by O.city

We didn’t have to start from scratch on this one. The Oxford team is already pretty far along in theirs at this point. The rna ones are interesting but less researched at this point so that may take some time.

But they’ve never had the incentive to do one like they do now and it’s all hands on deck. Unless this virus burns out or something they’ll have one sooner than later

I'm not concerned with the notion that scientists can or have already created an effective vaccine.

My concern is whether or not a determination can be made that it won't kill humans, especially humans taking numerous and varied medicines, in a very short period of time.

It's impossible to "speed up" clinical trials. This is far different than someone who has Stage 4 cancer and is willing to take an experimental drug to survive.

You're asking otherwise healthy adults to submit to a vaccine that hasn't been adequately tested and could lead to death.

That's a HUGE ask, IMO.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't.

It's one thing to create the vaccine. That's fine and dandy.

But to rush it to market could be absolutely devastating, especially considering the fact that this virus is disproportionately killing the elderly, most of whom already have underlying conditions and are taking numerous medications in order to survive.

If it's rushed to September, the results could be far more catastrophic than the virus itself.

I can only imagine how many more ignorant anti-vaxxers we would get in this country if we rushed a vaccine and it had some unwanted side effects. I went to high school with an extreme anti-vaxxer and his facebook posts are disturbingly ignorant and he has a huge following. It's quite amazing.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by notorious

Jesus ****ing Christ.

Originally Posted by petegz28

Uh, this is America, dude. That ain't happening.

Before you freak out we already did this with Americans we brought back from China and on the Grand Princess.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm not concerned with the notion that scientists can or have already created an effective vaccine.

My concern is whether or not a determination can be made that it won't kill humans, especially humans taking numerous and varied medicines, in a very short period of time.

It's impossible to "speed up" clinical trials. This is far different than someone who has Stage 4 cancer and is willing to take an experimental drug to survive.

You're asking otherwise healthy adults to submit to a vaccine that hasn't been adequately tested and could lead to death.

That's a HUGE ask, IMO.

Obviously you’re not gonna start jabbing without knowing that. They’re already in phase 2 iirc.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Before you freak out we already did this with Americans we brought back from China and on the Grand Princess.

That's a little bit different than ripping people out of their homes, bro

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I can only imagine how many more ignorant anti-vaxxers we would get in this country if we rushed a vaccine and it had some unwanted side effects. I went to high school with an extreme anti-vaxxer and his facebook posts are disturbingly ignorant and he has a huge following. It's quite amazing.

Yeah, the Anti-Vaxxers are going to have a field day with this one, especially if it's rushed out to the public without adequate clinical trials.

The consequences could be devastating, especially if people die from the vaccine, which would make it nearly impossible to ask people to try another vaccine 6 months to a year later.

If scientists can't hold and keep the public's trust, the whole thing falls apart.

[O.city]

That’s why I’m pretty confident the Oxford vaccine is the first out. It’s adenovirus based so we already know the safety of it. I think. Maybe misremembering though

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by lewdog

The fact that quarantining in the same house as someone who’s affected is not showing to be very useful. Especially running AC units all the time here now. It just gets passed throughout the house.

Also having a 2 year old throwing fits and tantrums with doors closed knowing his father is in there. I/we couldn’t manage that for a week+ time.

Due to my exposure risk at work I have not seen anyone else, including my parents, in the last 2 months. So I am doing my part.

That makes sense. Looks like the article recently posted is along those lines as well where it lingers regardless. That said I imagine if stats showed them being at high risk to be harmful or if your parents lived with you, you probably would have felt like you had no choice but to do something. So it came down to a risk evaluation verse cost for you and it didn’t make sense to isolate. I’d do the same thing probably but I think your example helps show that isolating the high risk is more important than simply isolating everyone without allowing things to start slowly opening back up.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That's a little bit different than ripping people out of their homes, bro

It's true, and it'll never happen here. It kind of sucks, though, that some countries are largely back to normal already because they truly locked down while we're going to be dealing with it for months. If you told me right now that I literally had to go to jail for a month but everything would be fine when I got out, I'd take that in an instant. We just don't have a culture of that level of sacrifice for the greater good.