***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.”

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm watching the press conference Live right now and Fauci basically said to stay inside and avoid contact.

I don't think that any of the recommendations or mandates that have been put in place by state and local governments have overstepped any bounds.

He also said that we're far, far behind "where we think we are" in terms of infection meaning the worst is yet to come.

Of course it is.

That's a reality of something becoming endemic. Again, it's an underlying premise of these curves.

The animations are really what drive these home. The infection rates in the middle of those curves skyrocket, for sure. And then the recovered rates start to tick up slowly...then incredibly quickly. And while that's happening, the eligible carrier population slowly gets siphoned into the infected and recovered population. And all the while you try to stay below your 'critical mass' line so that the outcomes are as strong as possible for those still in the infected group.

Nobody ever suggested things won't get worse - they CLEARLY will. But it's a necessary step. If anyone has ever bought into those curves, they HAVE to accept that line of thinking.

"Things will get worse" in this case is a truism. It's how this was always going to go.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm watching the press conference Live right now and Fauci basically said to stay inside and avoid contact.

I don't think that any of the recommendations or mandates that have been put in place by state and local governments have overstepped any bounds.

He also said that we're far, far behind "where we think we are" in terms of infection meaning the worst is yet to come.

Yeah, F that, I'm going outside. WTF difference does it make if I go outside? OH NO, I INFECTED MY DRIVEWAY!

[FAX]

I should like to clarify my position on this subject (since I seem to have pissed some good people off) ...

I am not downplaying the potentially horrific impact of COVID-19.

I am 100% opposed to people getting sick. I'm even more opposed to death. Period. I'm rock solid on that point.

Nonetheless, pragmatism combined with optimism is an effective brew ... especially when combined with a shot of Don Julio 1942.

Some medical professionals say that 1.7 million Americans can die from this. Others are saying that's utter hogwash. Since I don't study viruses for a living I suppose I can either choose a side to believe right now ... or I can continue to educate myself as events unfold. I choose the latter. After all, this is a moving target associated with a lot of variables.

Meanwhile, the majority of physicians are prescribing Basic Common Sense and the beautiful and witty Mrs. FAX and I are following those instructions.

Perhaps a re-calibration of our society was inevitable anyway. Perhaps we'll look back on it as a good thing (after all, radical change seems more difficult as it is happening). On the other hand, it is also possible that the lasting reverberations of a national "shut-down" over COVID-19 will be seen as ultimately and abidingly harmful in significant ways.

As for me, if I'm going to die, I would prefer not to die in a state of jaundiced fear. If conditions improve? Great. If not? Definitely bad. Either way, I encourage everyone to avoid engaging in or encouraging alarmism and panic. That will not help anybody or anything.

After all, whatever sort of post-COVID-19 world we will survive to see is the one we are creating now.

FAX

[Hammock Parties]

[BIG_DADDY]

They are ordering shelter in place for the entire bay area. **** Gavin Newsome.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

That’s awesome.

[Discuss Thrower]

Independence Bass Pro's Hunting dept cleared over $100,000 in sales across the past few days.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by loochy

Yeah, F that, I'm going outside. WTF difference does it make if I go outside? OH NO, I INFECTED MY DRIVEWAY!

Oh yeah, I'm going "outside" and I'm going to Lake Hollywood to run and bike because I'm not putting myself in contact with anyone else.

But I do agree that if the goal is to limit the spread of disease, gyms, restaurants, etc. are a no-no.

[displacedinMN]

This is all unreal.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Oh yeah, I'm going "outside" and I'm going to Lake Hollywood to run and bike because I'm not putting myself in contact with anyone else.

But I do agree that if the goal is to limit the spread of disease, gyms, restaurants, etc. are a no-no.

If I'm ****ed you will be too.

[neech]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

The unknown comic is alive and well.

[KChiefs1]

Dow:

20,186.52

Down 2998.87 12.93%

[eDave]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

That’s awesome.

People seemed in a good mood at the grocery store this morning. Lot's of joking around about the whole thing.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

This is all unreal.

It's like a ****ing movie

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by eDave

People seemed in a good mood at the grocery store this morning. Lot's of joking around about the whole thing.

I haven’t ran into one chicken little yet when I’ve been out & about, but they are all probably at home under their beds anyway.