***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.”

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That was actually an interview from March but yes.

Yes, just a few months ago, he went on national television and said this.

Now, some community leaders are threatening to fine businesses if employees are not wearing a mask. People are mask shaming others on social media. Some businesses will not let customers in without a mask.

But his basic premise has Not changed- yes it "might stop a droplet" but you have a higher chance of cross-contaminating your own mask.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Wait....what?

Do you need help understanding the word "hypocrite"?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

We have some "lurkers" if you will....

I prefer the term secret admirers

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by Kidd Lex

**** I hate the argument loving bitches bringing your straw man bullshit into this thread. I don’t give two shits anyone’s opinion on Fauci, Trump, or anyone else for that matter. Let’s discuss the novel Coronavirus science and leave all the other bs in DC.

I don't mind a good argument, but letting the obvious DC posts slide a day or two ago has sent it to the gutter. Seems odd after kicking so many people out of the thread earlier.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Yes, just a few months ago, he went on national television and said this.

Now, some community leaders are threatening to fine businesses if employees are not wearing a mask. People are mask shaming others on social media. Some businesses will not let customers in without a mask.

But his basic premise has Not changed- yes it "might stop a droplet" but you have a higher chance of cross-contaminating your own mask.

There was actually discussion about this very thing this morning with the NYU doctors and stuff on SXM. I posted about it earlier but they largely said the same thing about it being psychological and that most people don't use the masks properly citing media reporters reaching their hands inside their masks and stuff.

Their point was not that it is useless per say but that they aren't protecting you nearly as much as you think they are.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Kidd Lex

**** I hate the argument loving bitches bringing your straw man bullshit into this thread. I don’t give two shits anyone’s opinion on Fauci, Trump, or anyone else for that matter. Let’s discuss the novel Coronavirus science and leave all the other bs in DC.

We're more than open to a suggested set of guidelines. I don't think I'm willing to say that the advice of the country's designated expert is off-limits, though, and apparently some people think that's a political take.

So if that's where we are, I don't know where you can effectively draw the lines.

[ghak99]

I sit in a parking lot while waiting for someone and did some people watching earlier. I bet 90% of the people wearing masks were self contaminating. One of the most hilarious examples was a nurse in scrubs, who I know personally, just absolutely wrecking the situation. She might as well have just sniffed a line of covid off a hooker's ass.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Disclaimer: I have not seen the published study yet.

Antibody tests in Spain have found 5% prevalence, with 15% in the hardest affected areas. They tested 90,000 people across 36,000 households.

That isn't especially promising for the "more people have it than we think" belief.

If you backdate to April 27, and reduce Spain's death toll from its current count to what it was on that day, you end up with an IFR of around 1%. If you double the infection rate to account for the lag in antibodies (probably not terribly likely given the lockdown), then your IFR is 0.5%

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by ghak99

I sit in a parking lot while waiting for someone and did some people watching earlier. I bet 90% of the people wearing masks were self contaminating. One of the most hilarious examples was a nurse in scrubs, who I know personally, just absolutely wrecking the situation. She might as well have just sniffed a line of covid off a hooker's ass.

They're certainly not great for one's own protection (especially if people don't use them properly).

Again, it's more about keeping one's own droplets out of the air than it is preventing droplets that are already in the air from getting through.

[KCUnited]

No lakefront in Chicago until at least the end of June. Anxious to see how that works out.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Disclaimer: I have not seen the published study yet.

Antibody tests in Spain have found 5% prevalence, with 15% in the hardest affected areas. They tested 90,000 people across 36,000 households.

That isn't especially promising for the "more people have it than we think" belief.

If you backdate to April 27, and reduce Spain's death toll from its current count to what it was on that day, you end up with an IFR of around 1%. If you double the infection rate to account for the lag in antibodies (probably not terribly likely given the lockdown), then your IFR is 0.5%

Eeeek still 5 times worse than the flu, but not nearly as bad as it was looking.

Serology is going to be hell of a hindsight 20/20

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by petegz28

There was actually discussion about this very thing this morning with the NYU doctors and stuff on SXM. I posted about it earlier but they largely said the same thing about it being psychological and that most people don't use the masks properly citing media reporters reaching their hands inside their masks and stuff.

Their point was not that it is useless per say but that they aren't protecting you nearly as much as you think they are.

My dad is elderly and after talking to his doctor, decided to wear a mask in public now. I am glad- I want him and others to do the best they can to protect themselves. Problem is- when he is done with it, just throws it on the floorboard of his truck until he needs it again-lol

This is probably doing more harm than good, but it makes him feel less nervous about going out.

[FloridaMan88]

Miami-Dade County's "New Normal" begins on Monday, FINALLY restaurants, haircut establishments and other "non essential" businesses begin to re-open but with 10 million new rules.

Talk about a ridiculous overreach of regulations.

Link: https://www.miamidade.gov/informatio...new-normal.pdf

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

My dad is elderly and after talking to his doctor, decided to wear a mask in public now. I am glad- I want him and others to do the best they can to protect themselves. Problem is- when he is done with it, just throws it on the floorboard of his truck until he needs it again-lol

This is probably doing more harm than good, but it makes him feel less nervous about going out.

Tell him to throw it on the dash so the sun and heat can cook it.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by ghak99

I sit in a parking lot while waiting for someone and did some people watching earlier. I bet 90% of the people wearing masks were self contaminating. One of the most hilarious examples was a nurse in scrubs, who I know personally, just absolutely wrecking the situation. She might as well have just sniffed a line of covid off a hooker's ass.

I was out yesterday and shopped in several different stores.

One guy cut a hole in his mask so he could smoke and not have to take it off-lol

I think cutting a hole in your mask kind of defeats the purpose.