***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 BigRedChief

67 counties doing their own thing here in Florida. My county tried to use an outlook calendar to book 65+ citizens to get the vaccine. Crashed immediately. Never returned. Now you call a number to make a reservation. Average 7.5 hour wait. End of business day, people just are dropped off the queue. Sorry, try again tomorrow.


They just don't have the staff to do this and the covid testing and the other "normal" health issues. No money from the state to increase staff, even temporarily is forthcoming. No attempt to ask for volunteers.

We have a plethora of volunteers willing to administer the vaccine around here, but we have no vaccine to give. A few of our local pharmacies have said, "we'll help out - just tell us where to go"

Was chatting with my Mom last night and she's heard that Walgreens and CVS are completely overwhelmed with the amount of vaccine they have. They simply don't have the man power to distribute what they've been given to these LTC facilities.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

67 counties doing their own thing here in Florida. My county tried to use an outlook calendar to book 65+ citizens to get the vaccine. Crashed immediately. Never returned. Now you call a number to make a reservation. Average 7.5 hour wait. End of business day, people just are dropped off the queue. Sorry, try again tomorrow.


They just don't have the staff to do this and the covid testing and the other "normal" health issues. No money from the state to increase staff, even temporarily is forthcoming. No attempt to ask for volunteers.

When you have a clown running the show you end up with a circus.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

We have a plethora

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Donger

Why'd you leave off this?

And the shortage of oxygen, given the high number of Covid-19 patients, has also pressured the system to conserve supply.

"Given the acute need to conserve oxygen, effective immediately, EMS should only administer supplemental oxygen to patients with oxygen saturation below 90%," EMS said in a memo to ambulance crews Monday.

Why would you give oxygen to a patient whose oxygen level isn't that low?
At this level, a patient wouldn't meet criteria for home oxygen, and wouldn't meet criteria for admission based on oxygen status.

Basically this is saying, "Make sure that patients who you are giving oxygen to actually need oxygen"

[Donger]

Originally Posted by SupDock

Why would you give oxygen to a patient whose oxygen level isn't low?
At this level, a patient wouldn't meet criteria for home oxygen, and wouldn't meet criteria for admission based on oxygen status.

Basically this is saying, "Make sure that patients who you are giving oxygen to actually need oxygen"

My understanding is that normal O2 saturation is 96 to 98%, and that anything lower than 90% is a dangerous condition which requires oxygen.

Is that not correct?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Donger

My understanding is that normal O2 saturation is 96 to 98%, and that anything lower than 90% is a dangerous condition which requires oxygen.

Is that not correct?

Eh, kind of. I regularly hang around 93-95%, and my doctor has never indicated that's an issue.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Eh, kind of. I regularly hang around 93-95%, and my doctor has never indicated that's an issue.

It's just the altitude, man...

[loochy]

Originally Posted by SupDock

Why would you give oxygen to a patient whose oxygen level isn't that low?
At this level, a patient wouldn't meet criteria for home oxygen, and wouldn't meet criteria for admission based on oxygen status.

Basically this is saying, "Make sure that patients who you are giving oxygen to actually need oxygen"

They'll give you oxygen to make you feel better. Under 95 you'll start feeling tired and your thoughts won't be as clear as they should be. It's not necessarily dangerous, though, until you are down under 90.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Eh, kind of. I regularly hang around 93-95%, and my doctor has never indicated that's an issue.

Wow. Do you permanently feel like ass?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Donger

It's just the altitude, man...

I've never asked, but I do believe that has an impact.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by loochy

They'll give you oxygen to make you feel better. Under 95 you'll start feeling tired and your thoughts won't be as clear as they should be. It's not necessarily dangerous, though, until you are down under 90.

Sure, comfort oxygen.

If we are at a time of oxygen conservation, they are telling providers not to give comfort oxygen.

You are correct, donger, below 90 we generally give oxygen

A lot of people saturate normally in the low '90s due to chronic conditions. it varies based on insurance, but insurance won't even pay for home oxygen unless you are 90 or less either with rest or exertion

if you were in the emergency department with saturations below 90, and this persists, you will generally qualify for admission for oxygen requirement

People are regularly discharged from the ER with oxygen and the low 90s

Granted, if someone is showing visible signs of respiratory distress but normoxic, they will often get supplemental oxygen.

I'm guessing this refers to comfortable appearing patients with oxygen levels that are not below 90

Interestingly, we used to routinely give every patient with a heart attack oxygen, but data has shown that people with normal oxygen who are given supplemental oxygen have worse outcome

https://www.ebmconsult.com/articles/...-infarction-mi

[dirk digler]

Per CDC, COVID vaccines looking impressively safe.

Through Dec 22, after nearly 1 million doses, only 307 ED visits, almost all of them for minor symptoms.

#1: dizziness pic.twitter.com/jys1N0g15N

— David Juurlink (@DavidJuurlink) January 5, 2021

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by SupDock

Sure, comfort oxygen.

If we are at a time of oxygen conservation, they are telling providers not to give comfort oxygen.

You are correct, donger, below 90 we generally give oxygen

A lot of people saturate normally in the low '90s due to chronic conditions. it varies based on insurance, but insurance won't even pay for home oxygen unless you are 90 or less either with rest or exertion

if you were in the emergency department with saturations below 90, and this persists, you will generally qualify for admission for oxygen requirement

People are regularly discharged from the ER with oxygen and the low 90s

Yea but that doesn't sound nearly as scary as "EMTs directed to let people die in the streets due to no comfort oxygen available!"

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by loochy

Wow. Do you permanently feel like ass?

Nah. As Donger alluded to, I think it's just an altitude thing. There's a reason people get winded at altitude more quickly. But you do get used to it.

[Go Royals]

Got stuck this morning. No third arms or anything crazy yet