***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

A local source rather than the 30,000 ft view the AP gave.

As Dr. Larsen points out we see a lot of non-covid patients as well and has some have said, it's that couple with the rise in Covid patients. There is still plenty of beds across the area. I don't think anyone is saying there hasn't been a rise in hospitalizations but rather that it is not just Covid and the capacity issues are not being caused solely by Covid as the media seems to want to portray.

I hadn't heard 80 patients so that's a bit new. I think this article though gives some good overall perspective and sheds light on the fact that shit happens besides Covid.

For example:

North Kansas City Hospital was on full diversion for less than half an hour late Friday morning, a spokesperson said, but that was due to “some significant trauma cases” in the emergency department.

[petegz28]

I apologize to Donger for the comment. It was not meant to take a personal shot.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by philfree

I think mask work some but they also give a false sense of security. I went to urgent care because I thought I was developing p-neumonia. I was in the little room by myself with a quality mask on and I felt a cough coming on so I also cover my mouth with my hands and when I coughed I could feel the air and moister hit my hands. I went for the sanitizer so I wouldn't spread my covid on everything I touched.

Its why I dont understand why use of N95 masks are not urged more. But I suspect going from maskless to a N95 would literally make the antimaskers flip out and would a tall ask. N95 masks are waaaaay more effective for the wearer than regular masks, with a marginal more discomfort.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by O.city

Almost up to 200 hospitalizations here.

The test numbers are dropping slowly so hopefully the rest will follow

71k cases and rising. Which is to be expected. I was hoping the cold and flu spike wouldn't begin until Nov. We are most definitely going to see 100k cases a day, as I predicted this summer. Its inevitable since extended families and friends refuse to give a shit.

[TLO]

Kind of hoping we've hit our peak of hospitalizations here locally. We were up around 70 not all that long ago.

Down to about 50 today.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I apologize to Donger for the comment. It was not meant to take a personal shot.

Thank you. It's accepted.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

Kind of hoping we've hit our peak of hospitalizations here locally. We were up around 70 not all that long ago.

Down to about 50 today.

It’s went up and down like that here for a while so who knows

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by TLO

Kind of hoping we've hit our peak of hospitalizations here locally. We were up around 70 not all that long ago.

Down to about 50 today.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming I think that cases, hospitalizations and all numbers will continue to go up.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming I think that cases, hospitalizations and all numbers will continue to go up.

Because people will be spending time with their familys?

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Because people will be spending time with their familys?

That is part of it. People are more active shopping, traveling and spending time with members of the family that is not a part of the household and of course the time of year is colder with more flu, common cold, etc.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Because people will be spending time with their familys?

the CA Governor has gone off the ledge...

♦ “Gatherings that include more than 3 households are prohibited.” …

♦ “The host should collect names of all attendees and contact information”…

♦ “All gatherings must be held outside. Attendees may go inside to use restrooms as long as the restrooms are frequently sanitized.” …

♦ “Seating must provide at least 6 feet of distance (in all directions—front-to-back and side-to-side)” …

♦ “any food or beverages at outdoor gatherings must be in single-serve disposable containers.” …

♦ “People who are singing or chanting are strongly encouraged to do so quietly (at or below the volume of a normal speaking voice).”

[Chief Roundup]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations is so severe in the Kansas City area that some hospitals were forced to refuse ambulances due to a lack of space, according to officials with one of the region’s largest health care providers.

Eight hospitals, in both Missouri and Kansas, reported such high volumes of patients Wednesday night that they temporarily stopped accepting ambulances, said Dr. Marc Larson, operations director of St. Luke’s Health System’s COVID Response Team. A St. Luke’s spokeswoman added that two of the hospitals were part of the St. Luke’s system. She did not identify the others.

“We’re bursting at the seams in the metropolitan area, and really across the state and the region,” Larson told the Kansas City Star in a phone interview.

Missouri has reached record hospitalization levels several times over the past few weeks, with the latest record of 1,443 being set Wednesday. Data has not yet been released for Thursday or Friday. Among the regions setting new records was the Kansas City area.

“I worry that if we don’t start taking this seriously as a metropolitan area, we’re going to be the next New York,” Larsen said. “We’re going to be the next hot spot, because though we have a lot of hospitals, we have a lot of capacity in the area, we are filling up fast.”

Missouri is among several states seeing a surge in new virus cases. On Friday, the state reported 2,017 new cases and 17 additional deaths. Missouri has reported 152,571 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,459 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

The outbreak is prompting the White House Coronavirus Task Force to recommend that universities in the state test all students before Thanksgiving break, KCUR reported. Some university leaders said it’s a costly plan and mass testing isn’t effective.

The task force urges schools to “work with university students to keep cases low, with the goal of low transmission in preparation for Thanksgiving.”

[O.city]

We’re gonna find out what happens when we don’t do much precautions wise at this point. There’s no political will for it and people are generally exhausted on it.

So yeah, we’re gonna just have to gut it out at this point and hope hospitals hold up

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations is so severe in the Kansas City area that some hospitals were forced to refuse ambulances due to a lack of space, according to officials with one of the region’s largest health care providers.

Eight hospitals, in both Missouri and Kansas, reported such high volumes of patients Wednesday night that they temporarily stopped accepting ambulances, said Dr. Marc Larson, operations director of St. Luke’s Health System’s COVID Response Team. A St. Luke’s spokeswoman added that two of the hospitals were part of the St. Luke’s system. She did not identify the others.

“We’re bursting at the seams in the metropolitan area, and really across the state and the region,” Larson told the Kansas City Star in a phone interview.

Missouri has reached record hospitalization levels several times over the past few weeks, with the latest record of 1,443 being set Wednesday. Data has not yet been released for Thursday or Friday. Among the regions setting new records was the Kansas City area.

“I worry that if we don’t start taking this seriously as a metropolitan area, we’re going to be the next New York,” Larsen said. “We’re going to be the next hot spot, because though we have a lot of hospitals, we have a lot of capacity in the area, we are filling up fast.”

Missouri is among several states seeing a surge in new virus cases. On Friday, the state reported 2,017 new cases and 17 additional deaths. Missouri has reported 152,571 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,459 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

The outbreak is prompting the White House Coronavirus Task Force to recommend that universities in the state test all students before Thanksgiving break, KCUR reported. Some university leaders said it’s a costly plan and mass testing isn’t effective.

The task force urges schools to “work with university students to keep cases low, with the goal of low transmission in preparation for Thanksgiving.”

You either quoted a story that left a lot of things out or purposely left a lot of things out. Considering the misspelled Larsen's name too....

Earlier in the week, St. Luke's was on diversion for a short amount of time, which Larsen said happens at every hospital. This means they weren't accepting ambulances except for issues such as heart attack and trauma.

As of Friday afternoon, St. Luke's was not turning away ambulances.


The hospital sees a high volume of non-COVID patients in the beginning of the week, such as people who come in for surgery and need to stay a few days. Volumes typically level off toward the end of the week.

North Kansas City Hospital was on full diversion for less than half an hour late Friday morning, a spokesperson said, but that was due to “some significant trauma cases” in the emergency department.

The spokesperson said about half of the patients in critical care and the ICU at NKCH are COVID-19 patients and the hospital “continues to have capacity and is prepared to provide essential medical treatment."

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

We’re gonna find out what happens when we don’t do much precautions wise at this point. There’s no political will for it and people are generally exhausted on it.

So yeah, we’re gonna just have to gut it out at this point and hope hospitals hold up

The hype about the hospitals in the KC area is a bit overstated. There is concern but the media is being a bit dramatic, big shock I know.

There is capacity. No one is being turned away. There are ICU beds and regular beds available across the area.

Are things busy? Yes.