***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.”

[philfree]

Think I'll do some therapy. If it doesn't help my lungs at least it will relax my mind. Might help me cough up another nasty lung cookie. COVID Cookies!

[Supmarkus]

Originally Posted by philfree

I tested positive. I've been having symptoms but not terrible and I feel like I'm improving. But damn!

Get well soon. I had it back in March when it hit Europe. Hit me like a freight train early on, I was ok ~a week later

[O.city]

Looks like we're finally getting some flattening here in our area in terms of cases, hospitalizations are still going up and down but deaths are going up sadly.

[dirk digler]

Arizona coronavirus cases dropped 75% after mask requirements put in place, CDC report shows

The average number of daily coronavirus cases in Arizona dropped by 75% after mask-wearing became widely enforced, a new study by the CDC reported.

The study measured the number of cases reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The study showed a drastic drop in cases that happened between July 13 and Aug. 7, not long after preventative measures were put into practice by businesses, communities, and individuals.

The study found that after state officials provided local governments with updated guidance and gave them the authority to implement mask policies on June 17, which reportedly affected 85% of Arizona's total population, cases began to see a decrease.

Specifically, the 7-day moving average of daily cases peaked from June 29 to July 2, stabilized during July 3 to 12, and subsequently decreased 75% from July 13 to Aug. 7.

The report also found that coronavirus cases increased 151% from June 1 to June 15, after the state-wide stay-at-home order ended on May 15.

"Mitigation measures, including mask mandates, that are implemented and enforced statewide appear to have been effective in decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona," the CDC study stated in its discussion section.

The report said that decreases in daily COVID-19 cases in Arizona were also observed after widespread sustained community mitigation measures that promoted social distancing, limited large gatherings, and paused operations of businesses where mask use and social distancing were difficult to maintain.

"Enhanced mitigation measures should be implemented by communities and persons to slow COVID-19 spread, particularly before a vaccine or therapeutic treatment becomes widely available," the CDC study said.

You can read the full CDC study here.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Arizona coronavirus cases dropped 75% after mask requirements put in place, CDC report shows

Masks don't do jack shit! Stop listening to the mediaz!@!@

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Looks like we're finally getting some flattening here in our area in terms of cases, hospitalizations are still going up and down but deaths are going up sadly.

Our hospitalizations have been up and down too. We're going on our 2nd or maybe 3rd week of a mask mandate? I honestly can't even keep track anymore.

Cases have been fluctuating wildly from day to day. Overall they're showing somewhat of a downward trend over the past 14 days.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Arizona coronavirus cases dropped 75% after mask requirements put in place, CDC report shows

Swedish cases dropped 83% in 30 days from their peak.

No mask mandate.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Swedish cases dropped 83% in 30 days from their peak.

No mask mandate.

And they are rising again.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Donger

And they are rising again.

As they are in countries that did harder lockdown and mask mandates.

In Sweden, their hospitals are pretty much empty of Covid patients. Pandemic is over there.


Sweden was correct to focus on hospitalizations as a metric. Cases is not worth chasing your tail over if there aren't people sick in a hospital.

[Kiimo]

"Not worth chasing cases" lmao

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by TLO

Our hospitalizations have been up and down too. We're going on our 2nd or maybe 3rd week of a mask mandate? I honestly can't even keep track anymore.

Cases have been fluctuating wildly from day to day. Overall they're showing somewhat of a downward trend over the past 14 days.

National 7 day rolling average for deaths is the lowest its been since July 10th, almost 3 months ago.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

"Not worth chasing cases" lmao

If you are sick you should stay home. But worrying about a PCR test run to 40 cycles, well past active virus is not helpful.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

As they are in countries that did harder lockdown and mask mandates.

In Sweden, their hospitals are pretty much empty of Covid patients. Pandemic is over there.


Sweden was correct to focus on hospitalizations as a metric. Cases is not worth chasing your tail over if there aren't people sick in a hospital.

Cases are rising and their pandemic is over.

Makes sense...

[O.city]

Rising cases will eventually lead to rising hospitalizations and such as the more widespread it is the more likely it is to get into vulnerable populations.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

National 7 day rolling average for deaths is the lowest its been since July 10th, almost 3 months ago.

That's very good news. Hopefully we can keep it low.