***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.”

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Any reason at this point why numbers would ever trend back up even without a vaccine then?

Christmas gatherings could do it, but it's not looking like Thanksgiving was as bad as feared. (Though you do see some climbing in those charts after Thanksgiving, it's not a HUGE spike at least.)

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Christmas gatherings could do it, but it's not looking like Thanksgiving was as bad as feared. (Though you do see some climbing in those charts after Thanksgiving, it's not a HUGE spike at least.)

Maybe. I know many were worried about winter and indoor events which have been going on and the numbers are heading south.

[suzzer99]

July 2020 "appears to have been the deadliest month among [people age 25-44] in modern American history. Over the past 20 years, an average of 11,000 young American adults died each July. This year that number swelled to over 16,000." https://t.co/PBUPte1snw

— Timothy Noah (@TimothyNoah1) December 16, 2020

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Good news: there is enough overfill in the Pfizer vaccine to maintain adequate concentration while giving an extra 1-2 doses per vial. At five doses per vial, this means at least a 20٪ increase in available doses.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Good news: there is enough overfill in the Pfizer vaccine to maintain adequate concentration while giving an extra 1-2 doses per vial. At five doses per vial, this means at least a 20٪ increase in available doses.

Very good news indeed! Too bad they won't give us any up here in NW Missouri.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Good news: there is enough overfill in the Pfizer vaccine to maintain adequate concentration while giving an extra 1-2 doses per vial. At five doses per vial, this means at least a 20٪ increase in available doses.

Maybe send that to Florida? Ever since our governor mouthed off about mandating only one dose was needed until everyone in Florida was vaccinated, the Pfizer production schedule doesn’t include Florida. I’m sure it’s just luck, not payback.

[Indian Chief]

Originally Posted by TLO

Very good news indeed! Too bad they won't give us any up here in NW Missouri.

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Maybe send that to Florida? Ever since our governor mouthed off about mandating only one dose was needed until everyone in Florida was vaccinated, the Pfizer production schedule doesn’t include Florida. I’m sure it’s a confidence.

There is a shipping/logistics issue that isn't being widely reported. Only a few NJ hospitals have received their scheduled first shipment. The other hospitals are being told to expect it by the end of the week. I'm not saying that's 100% the issue everywhere, but it's a possibility. This is also independent of the current nor'easter that's ripping through the area.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Indian Chief

There is a shipping/logistics issue that isn't being widely reported. Only a few NJ hospitals have received their scheduled first shipment. The other hospitals are being told to expect it by the end of the week. I'm not saying that's 100% the issue everywhere, but it's a possibility. This is also independent of the current nor'easter that's ripping through the area.

I would hope they wouldn’t retaliate for a politician saying something stupid. You can count on that from all politicians.

[jdubya]

Interesting. My son works for a small company run by a married couple. He is in close proximity to both fairly often. The couple came down with symptoms last wednesday and tested positive for the rona yesterday. My son came down with same symptoms on Sunday (fever/nausea/aches, pains and cough) and tested negative today. I figure it must be a false negative as I am hearing there may be more false negatives than false positives.

Edited to add: He just texted me to clarify he had 2 tests today; The antibody blood test (which is the one that came back negative) and the nasal swab....which he has not heard the results yet.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by neech

I'm apprehensive about injecting something into my body when you don't know the long term side affects of it.

Getting Covid, even if you are young and relatively healthy and even if you don't appear to have a serious case, might cause you serious health consequences down the road.

Nobody knows for sure. But it has been shown to have some weird and alarming effect on different parts of the body including the brain for at least some patients.

I don't think there are any guarantees that 20 or 30 years from now people that had Covid might not have higher rates of other health problems.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

Getting Covid, even if you are young and relatively healthy and even if you don't appear to have a serious case, might cause you serious health consequences down the road.

Nobody knows for sure. But it has been shown to have some weird and alarming effect on different parts of the body including the brain for at least some patients.

I don't think there are any guarantees that 20 or 30 years from now people that had Covid might not have higher rates of other health problems.

Checkmate. Nice work.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

Getting Covid, even if you are young and relatively healthy and even if you don't appear to have a serious case, might cause you serious health consequences down the road.

Nobody knows for sure. But it has been shown to have some weird and alarming effect on different parts of the body including the brain for at least some patients.

I don't think there are any guarantees that 20 or 30 years from now people that had Covid might not have higher rates of other health problems.

I agree but that could be said about any virus could it not?

[Strongside]

My mom is getting the Pfizer on Friday AM. She’s been skeptical but I was glad to hear she decided to go ahead and do it. Will really help ease my mind with regard to her caring for ill patients.

[TLO]

Advisory committee meets today to discuss the Moderna vaccine. I'll probably tune into some of it.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Interesting. My son works for a small company run by a married couple. He is in close proximity to both fairly often. The couple came down with symptoms last wednesday and tested positive for the rona yesterday. My son came down with same symptoms on Sunday (fever/nausea/aches, pains and cough) and tested negative today. I figure it must be a false negative as I am hearing there may be more false negatives than false positives.

Edited to add: He just texted me to clarify he had 2 tests today; The antibody blood test (which is the one that came back negative) and the nasal swab....which he has not heard the results yet.

Testing has been a disaster from the start. Big reason why "cases" mean jack shit. Monitor your symptoms and those that you have had close contact. Even if negative that sounds like he should stay away from people.