***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.”

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Sorry to hear the news about your employer.

I am self-employed but my restaurant is inside a Public library. They have decided to close to the public until March 31st.

I also co-own a travel company that is being hurt by all of this. Travel is dirt cheap right now, but people are scared right now.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Well...thanks to the virus panic mongers, my business will be shut down until March 31st. No income and can't even take a vacation because we might get stuck somewhere during this lunacy.

This is not even about the virus any longer- it is about taking over this country.

Zero cases in the entire county- yet the city is going on full lockdown. You can't even go to a nature park now- ridiculous. Store shelves are empty and small businesses will be hurting including my own.

They are trying to take measures before things go to hell so they don't go to hell.

It's hard for people to realize how serious this is. It's like 9/11 where it took days and weeks for people to realize things are different now. I was young and guilty of that myself - walking around 1/2 believing the events that were happening.

This is not even about the virus any longer- it is about taking over this country.

Yup.

At some point someone will have to scream at all the man-babies "shut up and do it NOW."

We can prevent panic.

Or the stores will empty, the hospitals will fill, and our choices will all be made for us...

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I am self-employed but my restaurant is inside a Public library. They have decided to close to the public until March 31st.

I also co-own a travel company that is being hurt by all of this. Travel is dirt cheap right now, but people are scared right now.

Double whammy. Sorry brother. Hold on.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Gas down to 1.79 at Costco/Sams.

Wherever you want to be for the next 6 months you better go there now...

[BigRedChief]

Didnt work out for this price gouger

HAPPENING NOW: Matt did not answer our calls so we went to his storage unit. The AG’s office was on the scene facilitating with the donation. This is the 3rd stop they’ve been to this morning to gather the sanitizer. @WRCB https://t.co/SLOaEwJLOj pic.twitter.com/REJPNhiSbS

— Hunter Hoagland (@HunterHoagland) March 15, 2020

[Mennonite]

"It's hard for people to realize how serious this is. It's like 9/11 where it took days and weeks for people to realize things are different now."



Everyone knew that the world had changed forever when the second plane hit. Everyone. To say it took "days and weeks" for people to figure out that there was a new reality is absolutely not true.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Wife was told to work from home this week (thankfully she can do that) but I suspect it will be longer. I work at a probation office, so no, we don't close...until we do that is. I'm curious about what is going to happen over the next couple of weeks. Our officers work with a population that is, to say the least, not the most hygienic. Now with this on top of it...whew...we have signs all over the office, we have hand sanitizer everywhere, we have hand washing protocols in place...but no matter what, these guys HAVE to see their people, they can't telecommute. As such, neither can support staff. It's gonna be interesting...

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Mennonite

"It's hard for people to realize how serious this is. It's like 9/11 where it took days and weeks for people to realize things are different now."



Everyone knew that the world had changed forever when the second plane hit. Everyone. To say it took "days and weeks" for people to figure out that there was a new reality is absolutely not true.

I stated that poorly.

What you said is true. It was also true that it was hard for some people to believe that what happened just happened. A lot of people literally said "is this really happening?"

Drastic and fast change is hard for people who aren't prepared for it. Honestly, most people aren't prepared for it.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Well...thanks to the virus panic mongers, my business will be shut down until March 31st. No income and can't even take a vacation because we might get stuck somewhere during this lunacy.

This is not even about the virus any longer- it is about taking over this country.

Zero cases in the entire county- yet the city is going on full lockdown. You can't even go to a nature park now- ridiculous. Store shelves are empty and small businesses will be hurting including my own.

Why do you think it’s ridiculous?

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I am self-employed but my restaurant is inside a Public library. They have decided to close to the public until March 31st.

I also co-own a travel company that is being hurt by all of this. Travel is dirt cheap right now, but people are scared right now.

Some of the local restaurants here are now offering a delivery service starting today.

[Mennonite]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I stated that poorly.

What you said is true. It was also true that it was hard for some people to believe that what happened just happened. A lot of people literally said "is this really happening?"

Drastic and fast change is hard for people who aren't prepared for it. Honestly, most people aren't prepared for it.

Understood.

[Rausch]

Hard quarantine rumors fake news right now. Apparently attention whore's doing what they do on FB.

If you click this link there will be some political points of view. I value his reporting/opinion though...

https://youtu.be/ox8qCOFsk_M

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

whats the % of the elderly in Spain?

Spain's trajectory is worse than Italy's pic.twitter.com/lZZ0o5ncOZ

— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) March 16, 2020

Without sports, we need some sort of competition. Are we going to let Japan and South Korea beat us? Socially isolate, people, and let's win this freaking thing!

[Jerm]

Let the curve flattening begin: https://t.co/GLp2DQjnfG

— Ryan Ross (@rrossAPP) March 16, 2020

It's coming, just a matter of when....

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Just wanted to quote this.

It's sort of become a habit at work when we're about to do something that's going to suck: "Hey...Chiefs won the ****'n super bowl..."

It does make me smile...