***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.”

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Agreed I really think the problem is at the beginning of this deal the CDC was all over the place with their mask recommendations because they didn't want a toilet paper style run on masks which would have left too few for healthcare workers. So it's first you tell us masks don't work now you're trying to tell us not only they DO work but we HAVE to wear them. It pisses me off as well even though I kinda figured what was going on.

I think really it's just a matter of people with fever need to stay isolated and inside. More data is coming out on this deal and it really appears the risk of asymptomatic transmission is very low:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3240...IhgNVHGM3d4pO8

I'm not so sure that monitoring body temp at entrances to public places isn't a bad idea but that would probably go over about 10 times worse than masks. Lol But that could potentially be a way we could have stuff like a proper football season with fans in the stands.

That study is garbage.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I'll ****ing man up and say it...I couldn't do it. No way. Nothing but respect to those of you who do.

Healthcare is a choice and you are getting paid. Going to Disney is also a choice but the difference is I am paying them. And I am not going to pay them and wear a mask in the Florida heat and humidity. That's my choice.

[Red Dawg]

The virus was garbage. Total bullshit overeating.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by petegz28

When we went to dinner the other night the entire staff at the restaurant wore masks. And they constantly pulled them down to talk to each other or when they were off in at their stations putting orders in and such. Some had their nose exposed.

Saw several customers come in wearing masks. Then watched them grab them with their bare hands as the Wife stuffed them in her purse. Then they would put them back on to go to the bathroom but not while they were sitting at their table or talking with the wait staff.

So again, people wear masks but usually do all kinds of dumb shit to defeat the purpose.

I'm not sure there's any realistic way to expect people to wear masks in restaurants. Especially customers.

And I'll tell you one other thing...I'll bet there wasn't one customer in that restaurant in Centennial that would have even batted an eye if that waitress came up to their table without one.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Healthcare is a choice and you are getting paid. Going to Disney is also a choice but the difference is I am paying them. And I am not going to pay them and wear a mask in the Florida heat and humidity. That's my choice.

Yes, and ok? Don't go to Disney if that's what they're expecting.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I'm not sure there's any realistic way to expect people to wear masks in restaurants. Especially customers.

And I'll tell you one other thing...I'll bet there wasn't one customer in that restaurant in Centennial that would have even batted an eye if that waitress came up to their table without one.

Probably not. And I agree and it isn't just restaurants. You see people at the grocery store wearing them and they touch them or what I really see is as soon as they walk out they grab the mask and pull if off with their bare hand then proceed to go onto their car. If that mask did block anything that person just put their hand in it and now will touch their face and such and ruin the entire point of wearing the thing if their goal was to prevent them from getting it.

[Spott]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Healthcare is a choice and you are getting paid. Going to Disney is also a choice but the difference is I am paying them. And I am not going to pay them and wear a mask in the Florida heat and humidity. That's my choice.

That will be interesting to see what happens with the parks. I was in Orlando this weekend and masks were pretty much non existent there. 90 degree temperatures and crazy humidity probably makes those things unbearable.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Healthcare is a choice and you are getting paid. Going to Disney is also a choice but the difference is I am paying them. And I am not going to pay them and wear a mask in the Florida heat and humidity. That's my choice.

If they decide that's their rule and you don't want to follow, you'll just have to wait to go to Disney when this is all over. Same with any business that asks you to wear a mask. Don't want to wear one at Costco? Then shop somewhere else. It's that easy.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Spott

That will be interesting to see what happens with the parks. I was in Orlando this weekend and masks were pretty much non existent there. 90 degree temperatures and crazy humidity probably makes those things unbearable.

I am sure it's a liability thing though Disney claims they are surveying their guests. To me that's just a way to say "out guests approved this" but whatever.

I think most of the people saying it's a great idea are probably people who will never step into any of those parks and if they do they will have a quick change of heart.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

If they decide that's their rule and you don't want to follow, you'll just have to wait to go to Disney when this is all over. Same with any business that asks you to wear a mask. Don't want to wear one at Costco? Then shop somewhere else. It's that easy.

That's pretty much what I said but yes, I agree.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Probably not. And I agree and it isn't just restaurants. You see people at the grocery store wearing them and they touch them or what I really see is as soon as they walk out they grab the mask and pull if off with their bare hand then proceed to go onto their car. If that mask did block anything that person just put their hand in it and now will touch their face and such and ruin the entire point of wearing the thing if their goal was to prevent them from getting it.

I don't know man. I really go back and forth on it. Common sense tells me exactly what you're saying. But I also try not to be "that guy" and if that's what's going to make others feel safe and will help get us back to some sense of normalcy I'll play along...to a point. But there's no way in hell I could, or even would, ever do an 8 hour shift in one in the summertime.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

The virus was garbage. Total bullshit overeating.

CDC excess mortality from January 2017 to the present was never more than 9.3-13.1% above average for the country. For the last week of April it was 31.8-36.4% above average.

From January 2017 through March 2020, there were 7 weeks that triggered excess mortality. Beginning the last week of March through the most recently reported week, May 9, every single week has had a tag for excess mortality.

Excess mortality for NYC was between 600-650% in the middle of April.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/c...ess_deaths.htm

I've never seen such a group of proudly ignorant people. It's really pathetic.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I don't know man. I really go back and forth on it. Common sense tells me exactly what you're saying. But I also try not to be "that guy" and if that's what's going to make others feel safe and will help get us back to some sense of normalcy I'll play along...to a point. But there's no way in hell I could, or even would, ever do an 8 hour shift in one in the summertime.

The reality is this; Masks are in large part psychological and almost to a detriment. Unless you are wearing to prevent spread you really aren't doing much else. If you socially distance then the odds of you getting it are about the same as if you have on a mask. I understand what you're saying though.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I am sure it's a liability thing though Disney claims they are surveying their guests. To me that's just a way to say "out guests approved this" but whatever.

I think most of the people saying it's a great idea are probably people who will never step into any of those parks and if they do they will have a quick change of heart.

Yes, liability is absolutely the driving force in a lot of it. And I can't blame any business for it with the way people love to sue in this country.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

CDC excess mortality from January 2017 to the present was never more than 9.3-13.1% above average for the country. For the last week of April it was 31.8-36.4% above average.

From January 2017 through March 2020, there were 7 weeks that triggered excess mortality. Beginning the last week of March through the most recently reported week, May 9, every single week has had a tag for excess mortality.

Excess mortality for NYC was between 600-650% in the middle of April.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/c...ess_deaths.htm

I've never seen such a group of proudly ignorant people. It's really pathetic.

And wearing a mask didn't help any of them.

Or so I've read on here.