***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yes. Let's all throw out the past 1.5 months worth of research and just go back to what was known in the early stages of the outbreak.

I just listened to a big thing this morning on the SXM Coronavirus channel about how masks are largely psychological at this point. Most people don't wear them right and or use them right. They even cited how the media yesterday, I assume at the Trump presser, were sticking their hands inside their masks and what not.

Their point was it is not providing as much protection as you think or as it would if they were actually used properly by everyone.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

So unless you are directly sneezing or coughing at someone (and not covering your sneeze/cough), the homemade cloth masks are a waste of time.

They are not protecting the spread of the smaller droplets from talking, etc.

No. From your article:

Committee members point out that research suggests that COVID-19 can spread via invisible droplets as small as 5 microns and by tiny bioaerosol particles as well as via visible respiratory droplets just by breathing.

Therefore, they aren't a waste of time.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The guidance was put out there a month ago, so the only goal posts I'm seeing moved recently are places moving forward without meeting the guidelines.

Meh, we are going to agree to disagree here. I know what you're saying but again we have clearly gone from "flatten the curve" to _________. That is just the fact.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Provide additional supporting research that counters this study and touts the benefit of wearing non-medical/non-/N95 masks.

It's not hard to find if you actually care to look. Here's a place to start.

https://rs-delve.github.io/reports/2...al-public.html

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Well again that goes back to my first point, quit moving the goal posts. We were told we had to lock down to flatten the curve. The curve has been flattened. Now some places are coming up with new reasons. The only reason imo at the moment is "our hospitals are crammed and we don't have enough doctors, nurses and resources". That is largely not the case. So let the localities make their decisions based on their situation.

Do we really need to do this again?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Meh, we are going to agree to disagree here. I know what you're saying but again we have clearly gone from "flatten the curve" to _________. That is just the fact.

Are you saying the guidelines don't matter anymore?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I just listened to a big thing this morning on the SXM Coronavirus channel about how masks are largely psychological at this point. Most people don't wear them right and or use them right. They even cited how the media yesterday, I assume at the Trump presser, were sticking their hands inside their masks and what not.

Their point was it is not providing as much protection as you think or as it would if they were actually used properly by everyone.

they can reduce the viral shedding into the environment which reduces the risk of exposure for all even ones without a mask.

[Discuss Thrower]

Vitamin D study WRT to C-19 severity.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Vitamin D study WRT to C-19 severity.

More evidence that people need to get outside more.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's not hard to find if you actually care to look. Here's a place to start.

https://rs-delve.github.io/reports/2...al-public.html

Do you even bother reading what you post?

Areas where further investigation is needed

Mask efficacy depends on material, fit, and other factors

[Donger]

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...coverings.html

I know these guys are doctors and stuff, but I'm going with 88 and masks don't do jack shit.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Do you even bother reading what you post?

You are truly an expert at ignoring the things you don't agree with.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Do you even bother reading what you post?

Is that news to you? You seem to understand that N95s are much better than cloth masks.

[ChiTown]

I've learned quite a bit reading this thread. I've added absolutely nothing to it but reading and learning. So, thanks to everyone who has contributed useful info. However, I hate the fact that we have taken a world-wide health crisis and weaponized it to the point that we can't discuss this issue without beating each other up. Christ, folks, we are all trying to get through this thing, and we are naturally jaded by our POV. It'd be cool if this thread just stuck with the facts and stopped with "everything else" that adds absolutely nothing.

Unrealistic, I know, but my $0.02 .........

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I've learned quite a bit reading this thread. I've added absolutely nothing to it but reading and learning. So, thanks to everyone who has contributed useful info. However, I hate the fact that we have taken a world-wide health crisis and weaponized it to the point that we can't discuss this issue without beating each other up. Christ, folks, we are all trying to get through this thing, and we are naturally jaded by our POV. It'd be cool if this thread just stuck with the facts and stopped with "everything else" that adds absolutely nothing.

Unrealistic, I know, but my $0.02 .........

We now live in a world where people will debate what the "facts" are. It makes it difficult to have a reasonable conversation when there's not a common foundation of what sources of knowledge are allowed.