***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.”

[suzzer99]

When you get travel shots like yellow fever they give you a little booklet you can show to customs.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Otter

I was unaware vaccinated people were issued cards. My last vaccination was a TPAD booster and I didn't receive no stinkin' card.

Consider me enlightened.

I'm impressed that you managed to avoid discussion about vaccination cards until now. They've been a big topic of discussion about whether you'd be required to show them in certain situations (e.g., whether it's legal for employers to require them).

But yes, you definitely get a card with a COVID vaccine. Other vaccines too - I still have mine from when I was a kid somewhere.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by wazu

I received one for COVID Pfizer. I don't remember ever getting cards for other vaccinations, but then again most of them didn't require a follow-up shot a few weeks later.

Yeah, I feel like Yellow Fever is the only other one I've ever had a card for. Maybe some risks aren't geography specific?

My mother may have gotten a card for my childhood vaccinations, but that would be long gone now. I've gotten boosters in recent years and I think it only went into my electronic medical records. I can easily look them up through my health provider.

[Fish]

More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019

A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken early last year is the latest and largest study to suggest that the new coronavirus popped up in the U.S. in December 2019 — weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials.

The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical, but federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world ever became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Fish

More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019

A new analysis of blood samples from 24,000 Americans taken early last year is the latest and largest study to suggest that the new coronavirus popped up in the U.S. in December 2019 — weeks before cases were first recognized by health officials.

The analysis is not definitive, and some experts remain skeptical, but federal health officials are increasingly accepting a timeline in which small numbers of COVID-19 infections may have occurred in the U.S. before the world ever became aware of a dangerous new virus erupting in China.

I remain curious about a flu that swept through my office and one of my clients in late December.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I remain curious about a flu that swept through my office and one of my clients in late December.

I was too. But I got an antibody test when they first came out and nothing.

There was something weird that swept through late 2019. Lasted like a month, last two weeks were dry cough. But I don't think it was covid. No one was reporting loss of taste and smell and hospitals weren't filling up.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I remain curious about a flu that swept through my office and one of my clients in late December.

I had a cough and respiratory infection in January 2020 that one morning got so bad I went to urgent care as I couldn't get enough oxygen in. They did a breathing treatment, a flu test (negative), chest x-ray (no pneumonia). Ultimately discharged with a z-pac and steroids. I got better in next couple of weeks but was feeling it for a couple of months after when exercising. Weirdest was during COVID year I noticed I like hotter and hotter spicy foods, to the point of craving. I don't remember ever having smell or taste lost, but that development made me wonder if it was possibly lasting effects of an undiagnosed COVID infection.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I remain curious about a flu that swept through my office and one of my clients in late December.

Same.
I slept for 2 days and my family doesn't usually let me sleep more than 3 hours.

My staff was decimated and one of my managers was in the hospital on oxygen.

All just went away.
Like a bad movie.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I remain curious about a flu that swept through my office and one of my clients in late December.

Around the same time, I was hit with a flu unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. The fatigue level was just off the charts. I'm usually not one to just hit the couch when I'm sick. But that one was very different. I still question whether I caught it then.

[Rain Man]

The other weird thing to me is that once I got the covid vaccine, I immediately stopped getting some headaches that have been plaguing me. I mentioned it earlier in the thread. I thought the headaches were related to an earlier medical thing, but it was a really weird coincidence that they stopped immediately once I got the vaccine. And I've been reading that the vaccine helps with lingering covid symptoms. Now I'm seriously wondering.

[NotDonger]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

The other weird thing to me is that once I got the covid vaccine, I immediately stopped getting some headaches that have been plaguing me. I mentioned it earlier in the thread. I thought the headaches were related to an earlier medical thing, but it was a really weird coincidence that they stopped immediately once I got the vaccine. And I've been reading that the vaccine helps with lingering covid symptoms. Now I'm seriously wondering.

Do keys stick to any part of your body?

[KCUnited]

I got hit with the flu end of December 2019 as well. First time in forever and I did lose taste. Only reason I even remotely remember is because I'm a fiend for kettle chips. My wife brought some new kind home that she knew I'd love and I couldn't taste them and was like WTF did you bring this trash home for?? Been destroying them ever since...in moderation of course.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by NotDonger

Do keys stick to any part of your body?

Yes, but only after I go for long runs in hot weather. Maybe that's a Pfizer thing.

[Kiimo]

I had a horrible cough where I couldn't get oxygen and felt like I was going to suffocate for two weeks in late Feb 2020. Then I went to Solvang and partied which was basically the last thing everybody did before getting locked down. Several people I was with came down with what I'm sure was Covid because they couldn't smell or taste anything for weeks.

I'm pretty sure it was here.

[TLO]

I once had a fever in the year of our Lord nineteen and ninety nine. Pretty sure it was covid