***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.”

[dirk digler]

My small town of 10k is having 15-30 cases per day and we are almost up to 1000 total cases. I bet our positivity rate is sky high. Anyway they are having outbreaks in the schools as well (shocking I know) so starting today they closed the HS and going all virtual. Don't know why they aren't doing it for the rest since there is outbreaks in all of them but we are shit hole town. Can't even get a mask mandate.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Might be with the n95s but generally speaking I think we oversimplified the message of masks. Contrary to what some want to assert, more people are wearing a mask globally than ever and it isn't preventing cases from shooting up.

Not only are masks just a piece of what needs to be done, bad mask etiquette and such all but negate the mask. And then as I said, I think masks just aren't as good as we hoped in general. The anecdotal evidence says more people are wearing masks and yet more people are getting Covid. And when cases do rise many seem quick to say "well they aren't wearing a mask" when that is most likely not the case.

Look at the Asian countries and you see no large outbreaks and that was because they have huge masks usage. Taiwan had 4 cases yesterday, Vietnam 26, looks like Japan had the largest at 1100.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Look at the Asian countries and you see no large outbreaks and that was because they have huge masks usage. Taiwan had 4 cases yesterday, Vietnam 26, looks like Japan had the largest at 1100.

They also had previous exposure likely to SARS, so there's some pre existing immunity

[O.city]

Public health is about giving the public information and encouraging them to follow it. There's no force, it doesn't work.

Mandating masks aren't gonna work. It's too widespread.

Testing and a vaccine is your way out. Pfizer says they can vaccinate 12.5 million people by the end of the year in US. Start with nursing homes and front line workers. Thats a start.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by O.city

Public health is about giving the public information and encouraging them to follow it. There's no force, it doesn't work.

Mandating masks aren't gonna work. It's too widespread.

Testing and a vaccine is your way out. Pfizer says they can vaccinate 12.5 million people by the end of the year in US. Start with nursing homes and front line workers. Thats a start.

Let's ****ing go!

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Pants

Let's ****ing go!

The Moderna vaccine is similar to Pfizer and then you've got the Oxford vaccine as well.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping it's not the incoming train though.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Why do people keep comparing us to other countries? There's really not a valid comparison point

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Why do people keep comparing us to other countries? There's really not a valid comparison point

No, it is not. A few short months ago Dr. Birx said we should be more like Italy.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by O.city

The Moderna vaccine is similar to Pfizer and then you've got the Oxford vaccine as well.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping it's not the incoming train though.

It's hard for me to spew optimistic shit given the way COVID has impacted your family. The vaccines certainly give us hope in this time of crazy case growth bad news cycle.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

The Moderna vaccine is similar to Pfizer and then you've got the Oxford vaccine as well.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping it's not the incoming train though.

So the two leaders are both going to be using mRNA vaccines?

How far behind is Oxford?

[kgrund]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Do you think people aren't wearing masks in meat packing plants and care facilities? Those are the #1 and #2 cluster areas.

From what I have heard from other experts the #1 safeguard is not masks but rather social distancing. Social distancing without masks is greater than masks without social distancing. This reconciles with these two areas. Both places require breaking of social distancing. Nursing homes for obvious reasons and meat packing plants due the significant noise that requires close contact to communicate.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by kgrund

From what I have heard from other experts the #1 safeguard is not masks but rather social distancing. Social distancing without masks is greater than masks without social distancing. This reconciles with these two areas. Both places require breaking of social distancing. Nursing homes for obvious reasons and meat packing plants due the significant noise that requires close contact to communicate.

I would agree thus my saying I think we oversimplified the "just wear a mask" message.

[DaFace]

I kind of think that any discussions of "lockdowns" should be required to include a definition of what you're talking about. We've had mandatory masks and reduced capacity at restaurants and workplaces here for pretty much the entire time. Is that a "lockdown"? Because when I think of lockdowns I think stay at home orders, all restaurants and schools closed, etc.

I think it's very unlikely we'd go back to that style of lockdown, but it wouldn't surprise me if things tighten up with some of the less severe restrictions.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

So the two leaders are both going to be using mRNA vaccines?

How far behind is Oxford?

Oxford is finishing up phase 3 last I read and results should be out anytime.

There are 3 or 4 others not far behind.

I hate putting an exact time on it, but I'd guess by late spring 2021 this will be pretty much over. Not all due to vaccines sadly, but with immunity from infections and vaccines etc.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I kind of think that any discussions of "lockdowns" should be required to include a definition of what you're talking about. We've had mandatory masks and reduced capacity at restaurants and workplaces here for pretty much the entire time. Is that a "lockdown"? Because when I think of lockdowns I think stay at home orders, all restaurants and schools closed, etc.

I think it's very unlikely we'd go back to that style of lockdown, but it wouldn't surprise me if things tighten up with some of the less severe restrictions.

I think we know what is meant when they say lockdown. They mean shutting it all back down again like we did in April\May. Otherwise we are exactly where you said we are so the only thing you can infer is shutting it all down.