***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]

How soon do you think we'll need an update for the current vaccines to tackle the different variants we're seeing?

[louie aguiar]

Cases are going down not just in the U.S. but all over the world. Worldwide cases are down about 50% over the last month. I'm not sure why that is but I don't think it's because everyone has changed their behavior and I don't think the vaccine could have had that much of an impact yet. Hopefully this thing is starting to die out.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

I suspect that we're approaching herd immunity but only for the group of people who have been out and about more. If everything is opened back up, a lot of people who have stayed mostly sheltered might start coming back out. If they do then there's a whole new group that hasn't yet had exposure.

IMO we should stay pretty cautious for a little bit longer. I'm sure those who have stayed mostly sheltered are going to try to be near the front of the line for the vaccines. Once everyone's had the chance for the vaccine, whether they take it or not, and enough time for it to take full effect, we need to open this bitch up.

[KCUnited]

Couple more weeks at least til we know more

[BigCatDaddy]

It's been a year. Pretty much everyone has left their basements by now that aren't in assisted living centers. I'm cool waiting until March. The weather is shit anyways.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Couple more weeks at least til we know more

Ah yes. The old wait 2 weeks method

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

There has been literally zero change in behavior here locally in the last 3 or 4 months but the numbers have fallen like a rock in the last month or so after a big spike in December.

I have no idea what you would attribute it to aside from the virus running its course.

Except for things like Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the people getting together with family along with no holidays in the last month and a half.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by stumppy

Except for things like Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the people getting together with family along with no holidays in the last month and a half.

That's it! That's why numbers have been cut in half across the globe. Thanksgiving and Christmas! Got to love a good Stumpy post.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

It's been a year. Pretty much everyone has left their basements by now that aren't in assisted living centers. I'm cool waiting until March. The weather is shit anyways.

I'm going to be like those Japanese soldiers living in the Philippines jungle thirty years after the war. It's going to take Fauci with a loudspeaker in front of my house to get me to come out.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

That's it! That's why numbers have been cut in half across the globe. Thanksgiving and Christmas! Got to love a good Stumpy post.

How stupid do you have to be to think the word "locally" was used to reference half the globe, you ****ing idiot?

Answer: BigCatDipshit stupid.

[2112]

Originally Posted by stumppy

How stupid do you have to be to think the word "locally" was used to reference half the globe, you ****ing idiot?

Answer: BigCatDipshit stupid.

Stick to being hall monitor, it’s what you’re good at. Lol

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by stumppy

How stupid do you have to be to think the word "locally" was used to reference half the globe, you ****ing idiot?

Answer: BigCatDipshit stupid.

Show me the Christmas spike, lil Stump.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by 2112

Stick to being hall monitor, it’s what you’re good at. Lol

His takes are so horrible I almost would trade him out for a return of the Pete/Donger show..Almost.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by 2112

Stick to being hall monitor, it’s what you’re good at. Lol

If I want your opinion I'll give it to you.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Show me the Christmas spike, lil Stump.

Show me how the word locally means half the globe, dipshit.