***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.”

[Donger]

Four consecutive days with declining new cases. Hopefully it's not just because of the infamous weekend/Mother's Day.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

New information out?

Halfway down here:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ng/3108593001/

While patients treated with Remdesivir recovered 31% faster, Fauci emphasized that the result was “statistically significant, but really modest.” The hope is to build on that modest success through a combination of drugs, he said during a meeting of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is considering how and when to reopen the U.S. economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

[jdubya]

I`m confused with the "testing" issue. What is the problem? Here in Ca I can drive 5 minutes in any direction and get tested at a testing center with or without symptoms.....for free. I havent heard of anybody with symptoms go to the hospital and not get tested. Are other states having issues?

[jdubya]

Im in a county of 1.1 million people in the east bay area in NorCal. (20 miles east of SF) We had just 1 new recorded case of C19 yesterday. We have had a total of just over 1,000 cases and 32 dead. People are becoming unglued and want to get back to work. 6 weeks ago most towns looked like ghost towns and parks were empty. Yesterday the vehicle traffic is near normal, hardware stores packed, parks filling up and a skateboard park packed with about 50 kids......

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

we've tested 10x more than Sk but have 20x more infected.


we arent testing enough

Our population compared to theirs is significantly larger. Yes, we need to test more. But people like Donger want to play these games as if everything is equal.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by jdubya

I`m confused with the "testing" issue. What is the problem? Here in Ca I can drive 5 minutes in any direction and get tested at a testing center with or without symptoms.....for free. I havent heard of anybody with symptoms go to the hospital and not get tested. Are other states having issues?

I don't personally think it's a HUGE issue, but in a perfect world we would be testing employees who can't easily keep their distance on a near-daily basis. It would be a lot easier to be comfortable with easing restrictions if we were reasonably confident that people who are close together aren't infected.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Our population compared to theirs is significantly larger. Yes, we need to test more. But people like Donger want to play these games as if everything is equal.

You either do understand why per capita (not total number) of tests is the only number that truly matters, or you don't.

Is getting that number higher more difficult because we have a comparatively high population? Yes, of course.

I did read that by September, we'll have the capacity to run 30,000,000 tests a month. So that's good.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Donger

You either do understand why per capita (not total number) of tests is the only number that truly matters, or you don't.

Is getting that number higher more difficult because we have a comparatively high population? Yes, of course.

I did read that by September, we'll have the capacity to run 30,000,000 tests a month. So that's good.

I understand it perfectly. My point is that while you rant the fact is we have literally tested in cases 10X more than other countries.

As far as the 30 mil goes, get 30 mil to go take a test. It should be easy for you.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I don't personally think it's a HUGE issue, but in a perfect world we would be testing employees who can't easily keep their distance on a near-daily basis. It would be a lot easier to be comfortable with easing restrictions if we were reasonably confident that people who are close together aren't infected.

I think the best way to get a lot of this done is for the tests to be me readily available to employers then the insurance companies make it a requirement to be tested.

That will fix a lot.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I understand it perfectly. My point is that while you rant the fact is we have literally tested in cases 10X more than other countries.

As far as the 30 mil goes, get 30 mil to go take a test. It should be easy for you.

You understand it perfectly, then go on about total tests performed again...

Easy for me?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by jdubya

I`m confused with the "testing" issue. What is the problem? Here in Ca I can drive 5 minutes in any direction and get tested at a testing center with or without symptoms.....for free. I havent heard of anybody with symptoms go to the hospital and not get tested. Are other states having issues?

I think for the most part if you have symptoms you can get a test though I don't think alot of places you can drive up and ask to get one you usually have to have your doctor (if you have one) request one.

Here is MO's testing guidelines where you have to meet certain criteria to get one.

https://health.mo.gov/emergencies/er...pdate42220.pdf

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I think for the most part if you have symptoms you can get a test though I don't think alot of places you can drive up and ask to get one you usually have to have your doctor (if you have one) request one.

Here is MO's testing guidelines where you have to meet certain criteria to get one.

https://health.mo.gov/emergencies/er...pdate42220.pdf

Thats how it started here but beginning last week they opened test centers for all regardless of symptoms.........

I believe anybody can also go to local blood lab places and get an antibody test as well. I was told they cost $125

[Kidd Lex]

Would the board be interested in a less discussion based Covid thread that only lists new Covid breakthroughs, trials, lectures, studies, numbers, articles, graphs etc.... without all the non-scientific discussion? A place where you don’t really post unless there is a link to go with it. Thoughts?

[Mecca]

You know what makes all this better...I have a gas leak, so I get to spend my day dealing with that.

[dirk digler]

Why can't we do this again? China is going to test all 11 million people in Wuhan.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ockdown-lifted