***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.”

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

"We will not be going back to the old normal," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom during the WHO COVID-19 press conference today. Read the transcript: https://t.co/Uf2qTJrw5a

— Rev Transcripts (@RevTranscripts) July 23, 2020

[Donger]

I presume he means until we get the pandemic fully under control. If so, he's right.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Donger

I presume he means until we get the pandemic fully under control. If so, he's right.

You presume that because you are confused by the words he used? Here is the full quote.

The pandemic has disrupted the lives of billions of people. Many have been at home for months. It’s completely understandable that people want to get on with their lives, but we will not be going back to the old normal. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives. Part of adjusting the new normal is finding ways to live our lives safely. It can be done, but how to do it will depend on where you live and your circumstances. It’s all about making good choices. We’re asking everyone to treat the decisions about where they go, what they do and who they meet with as life and death decisions, because they are. It may not be your life, but your choices could be the difference between life and death for someone you love, or for a complete strange

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You presume that because you are confused by the words he used?

No, I presume because it makes no sense that he means after the pandemic is under control.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You presume that because you are confused by the words he used?

Do you know what exactly he meant by "old normal" when he said it? Like what exactly will be forever different going forward?

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Pants

Do you know what exactly he meant by "old normal" when he said it? Like what exactly will be forever different going forward?

Take it how you want I suppose.

It’s completely understandable that people want to get on with their lives, but we will not be going back to the old normal. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives.

[KCrockaholic]

I'm cool with having more accessible hand sanitizer everywhere, but no, this is not going to be my forever new normal.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Take it how you want I suppose.

Exactly. So why make it a big deal? He even said the "new normal" will be different for everyone depending on their circumstances.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Take it how you want I suppose.

You left of the rest, which is clearly specific to the pandemic.

Look, if you want to believe that he means for all time, go ahead.

[DaneMcCloud]

There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of businesses who've required their employees work from home during this pandemic, which will continue even after there's a vaccine.

People are shopping differently, using their cars less and using less public transportation, so while things may "get back to normal" for some, this "New Normal" will continue for millions of people in the US alone.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Pants

Exactly. So why make it a big deal? He even said the "new normal" will be different for everyone depending on their circumstances.

There is no reason to say "we wont be going back to the old normal" unless you literally mean that. Words have meanings. IF there is a misunderstanding its because he isn't explaining things clearly.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

There is no reason to say "we wont be going back to the old normal" unless you literally mean that. Words have meanings. IF there is a misunderstanding its because he isn't explaining things clearly.

Yeah, of course. But "normal" is a very nebulous term.

Is the new normal people washing their hands more frequently? Or is everything locked down forever the new normal? Maybe something in between?

[dirk digler]

It is going to be really hard for football to have a full season. Hurry up vaccine.

As the NFL closes in on a return to work, college football teams are serving as an example of what could possibly go wrong.

According to Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State has now quarantined its entire football team after a round of COVID-19 tests.


The school announced Friday that a student athlete and a staffer tested positive on Thursday. That came two days after the school suspended workouts for the football team, after a staff member tested positive last weekend.

The school is requiring the football team to quarantine or isolate over the next 14 days.

“The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon the living arrangements for student-athletes,” the school said in a statement.

Spartans football players returned to campus in mid-June, and as of last week they had tested 402 individuals, with seven positive results.

Other schools including Ohio State, North Carolina, Kansas State, Houston, Indiana, Maryland, and Boise State have had to stop workouts because of positive tests.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of businesses who've required their employees work from home during this pandemic, which will continue even after there's a vaccine.

People are shopping differently, using their cars less and using less public transportation, so while things may "get back to normal" for some, this "New Normal" will continue for millions of people in the US alone.

Yep was just about to say some of the same things. I may never have to go back into work.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of businesses who've required their employees work from home during this pandemic, which will continue even after there's a vaccine.

People are shopping differently, using their cars less and using less public transportation, so while things may "get back to normal" for some, this "New Normal" will continue for millions of people in the US alone.

Yeah, that statement could mean many different things. Unless there's mounting evidence that Covid isn't or won't eventually mutate into a less harmful version of itself, I don't get why anyone would believe there will be masks mandates forever or anything that extreme (as others have predicted it in this thread), beyond the fact that a some people love to take one grain of evidence and extrapolate to infinity (Chiefs go 1-0, let's talk playoffs... 0-1, they're totally ****ed).

Like you said though, companies came up with work from home policies overnight and some will never go back. Millions more people have been using video conferencing far more often. Schools came up with online learning options that may not have existed before and at least some of that will stick around. Telehealth got a huge boost and I'd think it's never going back to pre-pandemic levels of usage. Food delivery services got a huge boost and I'm sure some people who never used it before will continuing to do so post-pandemic. States like Kansas that have dumb and outdated alcohol laws relaxed them for curbside or delivery; some of that may not go back. Maybe people continue washing their hands more often. Etc, etc.