***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.”

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

https://twitter.com/dho/status/1336299574705709059?s=21

It's Phase 3 data day!

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by O.city

https://twitter.com/dho/status/1336299574705709059?s=21

The F.D.A. concluded that there were no “meaningful imbalances” in serious health complications, known as adverse events, between the two groups. The agency noted that four people in the vaccinated group experienced a form of facial paralysis called Bell’s palsy, with no cases in the placebo group. The difference between the two groups wasn’t meaningful, and the rate in the vaccinated group was not significantly higher than in the general population.

The new Pfizer analysis revealed that many volunteers who received the vaccine felt ill in the hours after the second dose, suggesting that many people might have to request a day off work or be prepared to rest until the symptoms subside. Among those between ages 16 and 55, more than half developed fatigue, and more than half also reported headaches. Just over one-third felt chills, and 37 percent felt muscle pain. About half of those over age 55 felt fatigued, one-third developed a headache and about one-quarter felt chills, while 29 percent experienced muscle pain.

Hmm, not ideal

[R Clark]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

Hmm, not ideal

I don’t know that you could expect much less

[MahomesMagic]

Nice explanation of the problem with PCR testing.

“The Fable of the Ant and the Ct40 PCR Test”

Or, an easy way to understand the problems with and damage done by PCR tests for COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/MPtGm36dT9

— TNK (@TTBikeFit) December 8, 2020

[Indian Chief]

I have a colleague that is participating in the Pfizer trial. They were notified that after the FDA grants the EUA, they will be informed if they received the live vaccine or placebo. Pfizer is planning to start a crossover trial for the placebo group to receive the vaccine and remain in the study. They intend to continue the study for two years to monitor antibody levels.

Not unexpected, but good to know plans are already in place.

[seclark]

wife tested positive last friday. daughter, who lives across the drive got positive results this morning. guess i'm lucky i work from home.

son came down and dropped off 2 cases of beer and a roll of cope for me at the end of the driveway last night. i feel like i'm living in a leper colony.
sec

[loochy]

Originally Posted by seclark

son came down and dropped off 2 cases of beer and a roll of cope for me at the end of the driveway last night. i feel like i'm living in a leper colony.
sec

I read that as "a coil of rope". I thought, "Wow, he's taking this thing way too hard."

[seclark]

Originally Posted by loochy

I read that as "a coil of rope". I thought, "Wow, he's taking this thing way too hard."

[notorious]

I read it the same way!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

Hmm, not ideal

It's fine.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's fine.

Bell's Palsy is awesome! I can be just like Hafthor!

[O.city]

Pfizer COVID Vaccine. Amazing! The numbers speak for themselves. I’m sure Moderna has similar numbers. One of the greatest achievements in medicine of all time. I’m all in. @ASlavitt pic.twitter.com/WqAmjKjZV6

— Vincent Rajkumar (@VincentRK) December 8, 2020

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

It must be the mRNA approach that the companies took in development that accelerated the % of success. People and even scientists at the start were hoping for a 70% success rate. Science comes through again.

[petegz28]

So I am hearing this morning that only .4% of all Covid cases originate in restaurants. The bigger target is unstructured indoor gatherings. So one person eluded to that you have more of these unstructured gatherings because you are forcing people to those by closing restaurants.

Makes sense....

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

So I am hearing this morning that only .4% of all Covid cases originate in restaurants. The bigger target is unstructured indoor gatherings. So one person eluded to that you have more of these unstructured gatherings because you are forcing people to those by closing restaurants.

Makes sense....

https://www.menshealth.com/uk/health...6K-uUEO7MAfDPY

Researchers analysed more than 62 million gym visits from 14 European countries and found just 487 infections had been reported by operators