***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 O.city

I haven't looked too much at it. I assume they're going along pretty slow.

https://forward.ny.gov/metrics-guide-reopening-new-york

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

I haven't looked too much at it. I assume they're going along pretty slow.

NY's re-opening plan is simple: Stay inside and if you want something just go loot it. It's all good! Be sure to wear your mask though.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by O.city

I haven't looked too much at it. I assume they're going along pretty slow.

What's your take on New Zealand? Surely you don't think that they reached HI.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Donger

What's your take on New Zealand? Surely you don't think that they reached HI.

No they aren't close at all. They've suppressed so far, keeping infections that low.

We can't do that here. Horse is out the barn and really all around the world. New Zealand is gonna have to do what they're doing for atleast another year, maybe longer if they plan to keep it at this level.

Economically, i'm not sure if thats feasible.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by O.city

No they aren't close at all. They've suppressed so far, keeping infections that low.

We can't do that here. Horse is out the barn and really all around the world. New Zealand is gonna have to do what they're doing for atleast another year, maybe longer if they plan to keep it at this level.

Economically, i'm not sure if thats feasible.

Right. So that means that mitigation efforts can/have/do work, if implemented early enough and hard enough. Yes?

[suzzer99]

Helps to be a couple of islands. The US is just too damn porous.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's still possible there would be outbreaks, but theoretically, there would be enough of a break to keep from there being a true wave.

I think if there wasn't some kind of immunity helping, we would already be seeing second waves in places that were hit hard as they relax some of the restrictions.

Looks like Europe is flaring up again.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, reflecting its highest daily toll since April. The country has now reported 228,261 cases of the virus, with 9,253 related deaths, according to data compiled from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases.

Spain has seen another 3,715 new cases of the virus confirmed in the past 24 hours, with an additional 127 deaths. As in Germany, Spain’s daily infection rate has not been this high since late April.

Elsewhere, Italy reported 642 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, notching its highest jump in new infections since late May. The country has recorded a total of 255,278 cases, with 35,412 deaths.

Meanwhile, France’s health ministry reported 3,776 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, with the daily tally going above 3,000 for the third time in the last five days. France has recorded a similar number of cases to Italy, with 30,434 deaths.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Donger

Right. So that means that mitigation efforts can/have/do work, if implemented early enough and hard enough. Yes?

For a short amount of time, sure.

Public health 101 though, usually, don't implement something you can't continually do. That kinda went out the windown though.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by O.city

For a short amount of time, sure.

Public health 101 though, usually, don't implement something you can't continually do. That kinda went out the windown though.

Right, and then stomp on the outbreaks locally when they pop up until there's a vaccine.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Looks like Europe is flaring up again.

Would have to see what areas of those countries.

Italy was the northern area hit hard the first time, looks like the problems now are in the South.

Kinda going thru the same things we are.

[petegz28]

So uh, how is Sweden looking these days?

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Donger

Right, and then stomp on the outbreaks locally when they pop up until there's a vaccine.

Ideally, it coudl work.

Problem is you don't know how long that will take, then you've gotta be able to immunize alot of folks.

By then your messaging has to work out pretty perfect if it takes very long.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

For a short amount of time, sure.

Public health 101 though, usually, don't implement something you can't continually do. That kinda went out the windown though.

He keeps beating that drum without or refusing to realize that you can only mitigate so much. The virus hasn't and isn't going away. So you either mitgate yourself into oblivion or you accept the fact that all mitigation is temporary at best.

The answer is treatments and a vaccine.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by O.city

Ideally, it coudl work.

Problem is you don't know how long that will take, then you've gotta be able to immunize alot of folks.

By then your messaging has to work out pretty perfect if it takes very long.

Wouldn't you say that it HAS worked in New Zealand? It's what they've done and what they are doing.

[Donger]

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/2020...-herd-immunity

Trying to find the study.