***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]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Lost a really good friend of mine this week to Covid. He was a little older (early 60s), but he didn't have any medical conditions that we knew. It really stinks as he was probably the nicest guy on the planet.

We love and miss you, John!

Sorry to hear that Pitt.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Watch that chest stuff. If you have an oximeter use it regularly. If not, get one.

RunKC do what Pete suggests and if it gets worse go to the ER. Don't wait.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Thanks, everyone. Such a great dude and huge sports fan.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah it looks like most of the Midwest has peaked and is coming down

Like most and I even think you said.... 2 weeks after Thanksgiving will tell us how bad it will get or if its a trend downward from here.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Wife got her test back. She’s got it. And I’m 99% sure I do too.

Chest feels heavy. I’m sweating more too even without doing anything. Same as her.

I've been out of the field for a while but I haven't forgot everything. Get to a pulse ox as fast as you can. Go to emergent care, go to a CVS or something and get yourself a pulse ox or a pulse ox reading.

Heavy chest while sitting still and sweating means your body is working too hard. Its not just a fever.

If you go to CVS and the reading is under 94 and drops more than <92 get your ass some medical attention because your lungs are not allowing enough oxygen into your body. They put you on a little O2 in your nostrils and you'll probably be fine. Maybe its a transient thing.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Lost a really good friend of mine this week to Covid. He was a little older (early 60s), but he didn't have any medical conditions that we knew. It really stinks as he was probably the nicest guy on the planet.

We love and miss you, John!

Sorry to hear that. I have had friends of mine get sick from it, but nothing like this.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by stumppy

This is day 14 for my friend. His breathing had gotten worse so he went to the E.R. earlier this afternoon. Haven't heard from him and he's not answering his phone.

It took 10 hours before they took him in to be examined. Pulse Ox was 94, xrays were ok, blood test were ok. Told him to get some Mucinex and sent him home.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by stumppy

It took 10 hours before they took him in to be examined. Pulse Ox was 94, xrays were ok, blood test were ok. Told him to get some Mucinex and sent him home.

Well, that's good they sent him home and his xrays were good. Sucks he had to wait so long.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by penguinz

I have the one on a Samsung phone. Not sure how accurate they are. Quick Google search gets mixed opinions. https://arc-w.nihr.ac.uk/Wordpress/w...2020_-1-1.pdf/ Says it is accurate.

Was briefly down to 93 after I had walked up and down stairs a few times as I kept forgetting thing. Was soon back up to 97+

Think of your hemoglobin as the boats that carry the oxygen around your body in your blood. The Pulse ox is measuring how full your boats (hemoglobin) are with oxygen.

Breathe faster or deeper, you move more O2 onto those boats. But, breathing fast and deep is not sustainable.

Obviously accuracy is crucial. No advice on how effective the apps are in the real world.

[DaFace]

For your daily dose of politicians taking the "do as I say, not as I do" approach, Denver's mayor decided to travel for Thanksgiving...after telling everyone not to travel for thanksgiving. Infuriating.

After warnings to avoid travel, Denver Mayor Hancock flies to visit family for Thanksgiving https://t.co/unKvucNaPL

— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) November 25, 2020

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

For your daily dose of politicians taking the "do as I say, not as I do" approach, Denver's mayor decided to travel for Thanksgiving...after telling everyone not to travel for thanksgiving. Infuriating.

After warnings to avoid travel, Denver Mayor Hancock flies to visit family for Thanksgiving https://t.co/unKvucNaPL

— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) November 25, 2020

Insert Picard facepalm.

[Otter]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ies-swell.html

I for one welcome our new zombie mink overlords!

Denmark coronavirus: Decomposing minks swell and 'rise from graves'

Spoiler!

Dead mink have begun rising from their graves after they were killed and buried as part of a coronavirus cull in Denmark.

Mink bodies have been spotted emerging from shallow pits where they were buried after the decomposing remains filled with gas, forcing them to the surface.

Police in West Jutland, a region of Denmark where millions of mink were culled, have rushed to re-bury the animals while insisting there is no infection risk.

Meanwhile Danes have taken to social media to brand the mink 'zombies' and joke that 'they'll be making movies about this soon'.

Mink that were killed and buried in huge pits during a coronavirus cull in Denmark have begun rising from the grave after gases released during decomposition caused their bodies to swell

Police said sandy soil used to bury the mink has proved too light to keep the bodies down as they swell, and that more is being added to the affected pits

Officers said the problem has occurred in some pits where the mink were buried 3ft down, and that more soil is now being added to the pits to help.

Thomas Kristensen, of the National Police, told broadcaster DR that sandy soil in West Jutland is partly responsible because it is not heavy enough to hold the mink bodies down.

'In connection with the decay gases are formed, which causes the mink to expand a little,' he said. 'In that way, in the worst case, they get pushed out of the ground.'

Posting the story on social media, Nicolai Nielsen wrote: 'Run... The zombie minks are coming.'

Stefan Bøgh-Andersen added: '2020, the year of the zombie mutant killer minks.'

Denmark culled up to 17million of its mink after the animals caught coronavirus from humans, the virus mutated, and was then passed back to humans.

Amid fears that the slightly-altered disease would render vaccines developed to fight the original virus useless, Denmark ordered all of its mink destroyed.

Farmers were offered payment for each animal they killed, along with a bonus if the animals were slaughtered within 10 days.

But the hastily-ordered cull has led to problems.

Earlier this month, thousands of dead mink were left strewn along a 12-mile stretch of road after spilling from the back of a truck on their way to be buried.

More mink were also found spread across a highway, with a truck driver charged with failing to secure his load.

Then, Danes living near the mass graves were warned about a smell from the bodies of decomposing mink, though were told it is not dangerous.

As mink bodies began rising from the dead on Sunday night, police were again forced to deny any danger.

While there is a small chance of catching Covid from a dead animal, police said, people should be safe unless they come into close contact with the bodies.

Denmark has culled up to 17million mink after the animals began passing a mutated form of coronavirus to humans, leading to fears it would render vaccines useless

Police say there is no risk to the public from the 'zombie mink' unless they come into contact with the bodies, and burial pits are being guarded to ensure that does not happen

That is because the virus will be mostly trapped within the dead animal's fur, as opposed to be exhaled into the air by live mink.

The graves have also been fenced in and are being guarded to prevent any further infections, Kristensen added.

The cull has also prompted protests by Danish mink farmers along with legal challenges, as some say politicians had no authority to order the slaughter.

However, Danish politicians have claimed it as a success, saying the mutant strain of coronavirus has 'likely been eradicated' because no new infections have been detected since September 15.

Scientists believe the mutant virus jumped from fur farm workers to mink in the summer before it was passed back to humans.

As it crossed between species, a mutation occurred on its 'spike' protein, which it uses to enter human cells.

It was significant because the leading vaccine candidates work by targeting this protein.

When news about the new strain broke earlier this month, Britain banned non-British citizens returning from Denmark and introduced strict quarantine rules for any Brit who'd recently returned from the country.

At the time, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned the mutated could have 'grave consequences' if it became widespread.

The Danish health ministry said in a statement today: 'There have been no new cases of the Cluster 5 mink mutation since September 15, which has led to the Danish infectious disease authority SSI to conclude that this variant has most likely been eradicated.'

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

For your daily dose of politicians taking the "do as I say, not as I do" approach, Denver's mayor decided to travel for Thanksgiving...after telling everyone not to travel for thanksgiving. Infuriating.

After warnings to avoid travel, Denver Mayor Hancock flies to visit family for Thanksgiving https://t.co/unKvucNaPL

— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) November 25, 2020

Politicians do not follow their own Covid orders and restrictions.


What is "why people don't care much about the Covid rules", Alex

[Otter]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Politicians do not follow their own Covid orders and restrictions.


What is "why people don't care much about the Covid rules", Alex

Alex?

Alex??

[petegz28]

Thing is all these politicians just say "oh I am sorry, I shouldn't have done that" after the fact then the next day tell you how they are shutting down your business.