***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 TLO

I'm hearing of a pending EUA for a treatment coming in the next couple of days.

Not 100% sure what it is, but I'm guessing REGENERON.

Would actually be happy if I'm wrong. Something else coming out of nowhere would be welcome.

That would be a good thing.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Thanks. I actually seem like I am starting to get some smell and taste back. Not 100% by any means but better than it has been in days.

On the spicy food comment, I've heard astronauts love shrimp cocktail (taste buds are apparently drastically reduced in space), its light and tangy and one of the few things they can taste. Might give that a try.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by petegz28

At some point you have to ask what else can be done? Short of locking people in their homes it isn't a lot.

While the issue will always be politicized, I think most reasonable people agree that total lockdowns do more harm than good. Its up to individual people/businesses/regions to act responsibly...which doesn't give me great hope.

More/faster testing would definitely help. But apparently that's political too.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I think you have to look at it is a mandatory deal for care facilities. Front line workers perhaps but not sure you can force that. Kids I think are relatively safe and I wouldn't want to give mine the vaccine for a few years anyway to be honest.

After this past year I’d think there will be quite a push to get it

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by sedated

On the spicy food comment, I've heard astronauts love shrimp cocktail (taste buds are apparently drastically reduced in space), its light and tangy and one of the few things they can taste. Might give that a try.

Had some tacos tonight. Could taste everything mostly. Still no 100% but getting there. Smell is getting a lot better too.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by sedated

While the issue will always be politicized, I think most reasonable people agree that total lockdowns do more harm than good. Its up to individual people/businesses/regions to act responsibly...which doesn't give me great hope.

More/faster testing would definitely help. But apparently that's political too.

I still go to therapeutics. I mean if we had a way to treat it so people knew the risk was truly like getting the flu I think it changes the whole game.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I still go to therapeutics. I mean if we had a way to treat it so people knew the risk was truly like getting the flu I think it changes the whole game.

We don’t really have a therapeutic for the flu with a very high efficacy iirc. I’m regards to antivirals, they’re just not easy.

We all have prior exposure to the flu so some immunity, we have vaccines and we can treat the symptoms.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

We don’t really have a therapeutic for the flu with a very high efficacy iirc. I’m regards to antivirals, they’re just not easy.

We all have prior exposure to the flu so some immunity, we have vaccines and we can treat the symptoms.

Okay well I guess my point is if we can get to the point where we can treat the Covid symptoms to decrease fatality and other damage. I know that's asking a lot but why not?

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Okay well I guess my point is if we can get to the point where we can treat the Covid symptoms to decrease fatality and other damage. I know that's asking a lot but why not?

It’s a virus we’ve known about for less than a year. They’ll get there eventually, but it’ll be a while id imagine.

Medicine takes a while

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I still go to therapeutics. I mean if we had a way to treat it so people knew the risk was truly like getting the flu I think it changes the whole game.

I was watching 60 minutes 2-3 weeks ago they were talking to experts and doctors about covid and they asked if they would rather have a vaccine or a therapeutic and they all picked the therapeutic. I was kind of surprised about that but it does make sense after thinking about it. A single pill would be wonderful.

[el borracho]

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I was watching 60 minutes 2-3 weeks ago they were talking to experts and doctors about covid and they asked if they would rather have a vaccine or a therapeutic and they all picked the therapeutic. I was kind of surprised about that but it does make sense after thinking about it. A single pill would be wonderful.

I have always leaned towards treatment vs. vaccine for the simple fact that most people worry about "what if I get it?" vs. "a vaccine will save me".

That might change over time.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I have always leaned towards treatment vs. vaccine for the simple fact that most people worry about "what if I get it?" vs. "a vaccine will save me".

That might change over time.

With viruses you’ve gotta get antivirals on board super early. That’s tough.

By the time you get sick enough to get treatment, it’s too far along to really do much for viral replication.

Just treat symptoms and hope body beats it

It’s why a vaccine that stops infection and transmission is always preferable

[johnny961]

I wish that I had a link...but if memory serves me correctly I was reading that Pfizer was starting a phase 1 clinical trial on an experimental drug that was in development to treat SARS during the outbreak that fizzled out years ago. From my limited understanding, the virus that caused SARS and the virus that causes Covid-19 are similar in several ways and that this drug that was in development in anticipation of a massive SARS outbreak has shown activity in the lab against Covid-19 as well. I would think that something that was already partially developed that works against covid-19 would speed up the process of acquiring a viable treatment by quite a bit.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by TLO

Europe is shutting down again. People are going to revolt like never before.

I've no idea what you do. I started to make a post yesterday. Belgium had 20k, then 24k new cases per day. It's like us having 700 or 800k new cases daily if my math is right. They had a mere 192 new cases on Sept. 1.

Switzerland went from sub 100k cases all time to 155k in 4 days. It just seems to be spreading like crazy over there