***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.”

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That has been one of my biggest questions is why are people saying that? We had our first known case before Italy back in January 22 and our first death before them.

We are now almost 8 weeks in with this on our shore and if you look at China it took about a month then shit it the fan. Same with Italy their first case was 1-31 and by early March it was getting much worse.

https://ibb.co/pLSpbVH

This is a website showing "days behind Italy"

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Meanwhile, no one anywhere else in the world is having the problems Italy is having. Why is that?

Keep in mind that Italians (and many Europeans) are just naturally more affectionate people. More hugging/kissing than other cultures. Anything that spreads fast will spread faster if a lot of physical contact is the norm.

Social norms and habits are hard to break.

I think it has more to do with that than their medical, political, or economic situation...

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by SupDock

https://ibb.co/pLSpbVH

This is a website showing "days behind Italy"

Yeah so what does it mean days behind Italy? I don't get it and hope someone can explain it to me.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Rausch

That is now. It might be better to get it earlier than later. I'm not optimistic about stopping the spread in big populations. Most people either think it's the end of the world or imaginary/no big deal and both are bad.

Restrict your exposure to other people as much as possible, cut out risky behaviors (getting wasted, big gatherings, sex with Clay,) and don't panic.

There's a link to a gal's youtube video below that talks about already getting it and having a mild reaction. She already got tested and is waiting for results. She is a very political person but I don't remember anything political in the vid. TLDR is she had hot/cold flashes, high (bearable) fever, and difficulty breathing. I think it took her about 2 weeks to kick it. She was not hospitalized and her experience was basically a 2 week shitty flu experience.

Not preferable but not disaster either...

That rate was between 2-3% for the last week. It has slowly been trending down.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by SupDock

She got it, but is awaiting results?

She came into contact with people who were positive, displayed all signs and symptoms, and was evaluated by medical professionals who told her told her she was exactly what they expect in a common case. I think she said it takes 3-5 days to get results right now.

The important thing is that she's gone through the evaluation, testing, and hospital setting. She's trying to explain what to expect if/when you have to. Even if she doesn't have it she's explaining what going through that process is like and that it's not the end of the world right now.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That has been one of my biggest questions is why are people saying that? We had our first known case before Italy back in January 22 and our first death before them.

We are now almost 8 weeks in with this on our shore and if you look at China it took about a month then shit it the fan. Same with Italy their first case was 1-31 and by early March it was getting much worse.

The first community spread case in the US wasn't discovered until 2/28. Earlier cases were contained. That is when our clock started.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by SupDock

She got it, but is awaiting results?

Yeah, I didn't quite get that either. "I have it but I don't know for sure that I have it"

[TLO]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The first community spread case in the US wasn't discovered until 2/28. Earlier cases were contained. That is when our clock started.

And then there was speculation that the virus had been spread in the community for 4-6 weeks prior to that.

Nobody seems to have any idea what's going on.

[BigRedChief]

Indy car race going on as planned in my home town. Expected 100K race fans attending today. People are not happy.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Other countries learned from their mistake and are taking more aggressive measures.The same measures being bashed as panic and overreacting by some.

Exactly. China has gotten it under control. How'd they do it? Locked the whole country down.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Indy car race going on as planned in my home town. Expected 100K race fans attending. People are not happy.

So what people? The 100k attending?

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Exactly. China has gotten it under control. How'd they do it? Locked the whole country down.

South Korea does to. How? Testing lots of people, isolating them and letting most people go about their business with some precautions.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Rausch

She came into contact with people who were positive, displayed all signs and symptoms, and was evaluated by medical professionals who told her told her she was exactly what they expect in a common case. I think she said it takes 3-5 days to get results right now.

The important thing is that she's gone through the evaluation, testing, and hospital setting. She's trying to explain what to expect if/when you have to. Even if she doesn't have it she's explaining what going through that process is like and that it's not the end of the world right now.

d ick pics are still safe right? Asking for a friend.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Exactly. China has gotten it under control. How'd they do it? Locked the whole country down.

This country will not allow what China had to do to stop it.

Hopefully people are smart during the voluntary quarantine requests. I don't have high hopes but people being extra cautious to a sensible degree will slow this thing...

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by TLO

And then there was speculation that the virus had been spread in the community for 4-6 weeks prior to that.

Nobody seems to have any idea what's going on.

There is uncertainty, no doubt. I tend to question the 4-6 week time line because there would be way more cases if that were true.