***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.”

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The wisdom of Carlin is always high on the list.

You dont say?

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You dont say?

I actually generally agree with that, however it is kind of absurd to go oh well it'll kill 200k people but they were old or unhealthy so ****em my lifes good.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

People who are holding up South Korea as a supposed example of how the virus can be successfully contained should read up on their ongoing “everyday life quarantine” restrictions which still ban mass gatherings, require face masks, etc.

All of that “new normal” bullshit will remain in place until a vaccine is developed... even in a supposed “success” country such as South Korea.

So once again the question remains, if no scalable/effective vaccine is ever developed... does “everyday life quarantine” and the “new normal” become permanent?

Even the most hardcore lockdown supporters would agree that is not sustainable.

If there is no vaccine there definitely will be therapeutic treatments. But as Donger suggested we could all wear masks while out in public and continue to be diligent about our hand washing along with some social distancing.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

This going to TOUCH on something that could be called broadly 'political' but is more psychological, and has been bugging me for so long here that it needs to be said I need to say it, even if people misinterpret it and b& me. And I would add, if this post bothers folks as over the line, I'd ask that they give me an oportunity to rephrase or retract, as I'm not trying to make a partisan point, but an important philosophical and strategic one.

I'm going to try to express it succinctly, so I apologize if it abridges some nuances, . . . but we live in a free society with inalienable rights, so it seems that all this energy devoted to shaming and belittling people into conceding their rights are an illusion would be better devoted to persuading people that their rights should be momentarily lended to an extraordinary circumstance.

And part of that is being brutally honest about the best and worst case scenarios as well as the reasons why they are still speculative.

Maybe it's just my psychological makeup, but I realize a lot of the merits of various narratives, but I also see the pitfalls and/or uncertainties being downplayed or hidden. But even if one were absolutely convinced of a plan of action, I don't understand why they don't work harder to persuade instead of snark and belittlement [even if they're getting it back].

When seeking behavior from another person, you can either persuade [with reasoning or enticement or flattery, or whatever] or you can force with whatever heft and muscle you can muster.

If the end goal is unified response, it seems far better to say 'this is why it's important, and here's what it might cost, and we're not sure it can work but it's our best effort' than 'this is the way it is, and if you have questions stop being stupid and listen and obey.'

I agree, but when you say 'shaming and belittling people into conceding their rights', are you talking about this thread (and the meme I posted) or is this taking place on a grander scale, such as the CDC and news outlets, etc?

I personally don't feel like I've been shamed or belittled into doing anything,but I also see no value in watching the news, so I don't... I've done plenty of research on my own and via this thread, and I've found plenty of the 'why', even if that's sadly not communicated on a broader scale outside of the occasional civil facebook post about it.


I think this is all on point.... I'm all for educating people on the 'why'. The flip side to this, very sadly, is a lot of people quickly come up with their own opinion of the situation based on the very limited data in front of their face at the time, and then spend the rest of time finding ways to confirm it.... that's on display throughout this thread, or most threads around here. I'd guess the majority of people don't get beyond that first opinion, no matter how much education is out there.... they're forever stranded on Mount Stupid.

And I'm not criticizing your points at all (just society as a whole)... I totally agree, and even if people don't take to the education, we should still do it, then people can choose whether they want to digest the 'why'.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I actually generally agree with that, however it is kind of absurd to go oh well it'll kill 200k people but they were old or unhealthy so ****em my lifes good.

If only anyone was actually saying that. Nice strawman though.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I agree that you would argue over some really petty shit.

The fact that you read that post and THAT'S what you took from it is just

I'm just curious why wearing masks is unsustainable. Nothing more than that, really.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm just curious why wearing masks is unsustainable. Nothing more than that, really.

Because man, it's annoying.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm not wrong. This is new/novel. Seasonal flu is not. It's CFR is also higher than seasonal flu.

I'm aware that COVID-19 kills more elderly than young. So does seasonal flu. That doesn't change the fact that the CFR is higher than seasonal flu, which I presume you aren't going to try to dispute.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by srvy

Oh, welcome back. Yes, those pesky facts are still here and valid.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by staylor26

If George Carlin’s philosophy can’t resonate with you (simply because he’s a comedian), you’re an idiot, and I’m not talking about book smarts.

People taking anything from that Carlin meme is no different than assuming John Stewart and John Oliver's shows promoted nuanced understanding of current issues and events.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by TLO

400+ of what they're still determining to be "asymptomatic" cases.

1 worker in his 40's passed away. He was tested April 24th I believe. He had underlying health conditions.

Not much else has been reported. Our numbers in Buchanan County continue to rise, but it's not been made clear if these are stragglers from the plant that weren't tested before, or if they are from the community.

I also just found this

On Sunday, May 3, Triumph Foods CEO Mark Campbell issued a video update to employees, confirming that around 17% of the Triumph Foods workforce had tested positive for coronavirus, but 90% of them were asymptomatic

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I agree, but when you say 'shaming and belittling people into conceding their rights', are you talking about this thread (and the meme I posted) or is this taking place on a grander scale, such as the CDC and news outlets, etc?

Not you specifically [MoF, your circumspection in the quoted post was the signifier that it might be productive to bring this up overall], and not so much the 'responsible' new media. But a lot on here, and a shit ton on social media.

Maybe I'm too sensitive, but there seems an avalanche of '**** these butt****ing morons and their freedom' which, even if loosely apt for the situation is merely resentful and catastrophically counterproductive.

Everyone is dealing with imperfect information and extraordinary times, and it just seems like persuasion remains superior to derision and muscle, even if some remain unpersuaded. Part of one's sacrifice for overall success might need to incorporate sublimating one's more snarky and combative impulses.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm just curious why wearing masks is unsustainable. Nothing more than that, really.

Well because it would be......

I mean its not like masks keep working regardless I would bet they have to be replaced. You going to mandate people buy masks?

I mean why stop there, clearly there is a epidemic of reeruns in this country we should mandate condoms while we are at it.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

Wearing a mask isn't unsustainable.

Yes, it is. People are not going to wear a mask every day for the rest of their lives. Just not gonna happen.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Well because it would be......

I mean its not like masks keep working regardless I would bet they have to be replaced. You going to mandate people buy masks?

I mean why stop there, clearly there is a epidemic of reeruns in this country we should mandate condoms while we are at it.

Actually, yes they should, dumb people reproducing is the bane of society.