***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]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

The back tracking.

Also can you imagine elementary aged kids asked to keep those on all day long. Good luck, teach.

I see. You view the backtracking in the face of people melting down over a mask requirement to be a good thing for public health. And funny.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by lewdog

You’re ok with giving up your freedom to sue someone if this is handled poorly and costs lives, but won’t have your freedoms get in the way of wearing a mask?

I don't see schools pouring out money in lawsuits ends well.

From a private businesses standpoint. You dont have to go there.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I don't see schools pouring out money in lawsuits ends well.

From a private businesses standpoint. You dont have to go there.

It’s almost like there should be a federal mandate with specific guidelines for how schools will handle all scenarios that will be present in reopening. Identifying symptoms, isolating and testing if needed....for teachers, staff and students. The biggest worry is all the school staff sharing it with each other.

[Demonpenz]

They are going to do a raid for drugs on the SJSD and all the drugs are going to be pills hidden in teachers desks with bags of wine

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by lewdog

It’s almost like there should be a federal mandate with specific guidelines for how schools will handle all scenarios that will be present in reopening. Identifying symptoms, isolating and testing if needed....for teachers, staff and students. The biggest worry is all the school staff sharing it with each other.

Yea a federal mandate should fix it, those are known to be followed to the letter.

[Great8]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

So again, you’ll do the same thing you did in April and May, correct?

Yes, we can.
But I'd be willing to bet that not every parent that was working from home during the beginning of this thing is still doing so.
I'm in Virginia, and we are in Phase 3 now, so I'm sure some parents are back at it.
And just speaking from our experience, our daughter gets a whole lot more out of face to face classtime as opposed to virtual learning.
She's a good student, not Ivy league material, but a solid A's and B's student, and the virtual learning just wasn't the same.
Selfishly, I know she'd like to have an actual senior year in high school with her friends and Prom etc.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

They need to make schools exempt from Covid lawsuits.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yea a federal mandate should fix it, those are known to be followed to the letter.

You’re right. Let’s let all these school districts make their own plan and secure their own tests. That should work. I really trust some shitty school in St. Joe to know what they’re doing..... Especially with BigCatDaddy on the school board.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by lewdog

You’re right. Let’s let all these school districts make their own plan and secure their own tests. That should work. I really trust some shitty school in St. Joe to know what they’re doing..... Especially with BigCatDaddy on the school board.

You think a school with 2000 students in Phoenix should be handled just like a school with 300 students in Podunk KS?

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by O.city

You guys need to read up on Memory B cells

I'm praying for them.

We should know in a few months if people can catch this thing twice en masse.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by lewdog

It’s almost like there should be a federal mandate with specific guidelines for how schools will handle all scenarios that will be present in reopening. Identifying symptoms, isolating and testing if needed....for teachers, staff and students. The biggest worry is all the school staff sharing it with each other.

I think you will see both schools and private businesses protected from Covid-19 suits as part of the next stimulus package. It's the only way forward.

[BigCatDaddy]

Waivers already being required

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/07/mis...lO1fdK-mIZdW3M

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I think you will see both schools and private businesses protected from Covid-19 suits as part of the next stimulus package. It's the only way forward.

To be honest there is likely going to be a need for blanket immunity from covid law suits. Just too much opportunity for blame, lawyers would be suing people for the next 50 years.

The truth is the scientific community has not been straightforward since day one, there is more evidence this bug came from a lab than there is otherwise.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I think you will see both schools and private businesses protected from Covid-19 suits as part of the next stimulus package. It's the only way forward.

Highly doubt it will happen.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You think a school with 2000 students in Phoenix should be handled just like a school with 300 students in Podunk KS?

Back in March, my thought was this whole thing should give us some great lessons learned for federally mandated guidelines, at least in terms of a rough outline of what to look for and steps to take. And those guidelines wouldn't be "one size fits all", obviously.

For school reopening, simply say
Less than (insert positive case or whatever metric here) - business as usual
(insert more levels and requirements)
> (insert metric) - 100% online only

Same for when to start enforcing stay at home orders, etc. Of course, the next worldwide pandemic will be a zombie virus or something completely different, so obviously adjustments would be needed.