***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.”

[O.city]

Hope everyone got to read some of the threads I posted earlier. So far it looks like the vaccines are holding up well against delta

Not sure what that study out of Israel was

[O.city]

Looks like the places hit with delta in Israel are already coming down after the blip

Which is great news

[MahomesMagic]

Dolsten said that early data from the company's own studies show that a third booster dose generates antibody levels that are five to 10-fold higher than after the second dose, suggesting that a third dose will offer promising protection.

He said that multiple countries in Europe and elsewhere have already approached Pfizer to discuss booster doses, and that some may begin administering them before a potential US authorisation.

Dolsten said he believes that booster shots are particularly important in older age groups.

Because boosters will drive increasing demand for vaccines as much of the world is still unvaccinated, Dolsten said Pfizer is looking at ways to boost production.

Pfizer is already targeting production of three billion doses this year and four billion doses next year. Dolsten declined to give a forecast of exactly how many more doses the company could add, but said: "We can step up billion after billion in '22."

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said people will likely need a booster dose of the company's vaccine every 12 months - similar to an annual flu shot. But some scientists question when, or whether, such shots will be needed.

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/pf...-covid-vaccine

[TLO]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Dolsten said that early data from the company's own studies show that a third booster dose generates antibody levels that are five to 10-fold higher than after the second dose, suggesting that a third dose will offer promising protection.

He said that multiple countries in Europe and elsewhere have already approached Pfizer to discuss booster doses, and that some may begin administering them before a potential US authorisation.

Dolsten said he believes that booster shots are particularly important in older age groups.

Because boosters will drive increasing demand for vaccines as much of the world is still unvaccinated, Dolsten said Pfizer is looking at ways to boost production.

Pfizer is already targeting production of three billion doses this year and four billion doses next year. Dolsten declined to give a forecast of exactly how many more doses the company could add, but said: "We can step up billion after billion in '22."

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said people will likely need a booster dose of the company's vaccine every 12 months - similar to an annual flu shot. But some scientists question when, or whether, such shots will be needed.

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/pf...-covid-vaccine

FDA and CDC as of right now.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by TLO

FDA and CDC as of right now.

If Pharma wants boosters, they will get boosters. FDA and CDC are captured agencies.

Probably this is about them not admitting to the full plan now because it would dampen even further enthusiasm for the shots.

[O.city]

Elderly and immunocompromised people maybe

I’m doubtful

It’s all based on antibody levels which were always going to wane. Memory B cells for the win

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Elderly and immunocompromised people maybe

I’m doubtful

It’s all based on antibody levels which were always going to wane. Memory B cells for the win

Yes

[htismaqe]

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by O.city

Elderly and immunocompromised people maybe

I’m doubtful

It’s all based on antibody levels which were always going to wane. Memory B cells for the win

I'm among those that think getting the rest of the world first shots make more sense than wealthy people third shots.

But if some point down the line booster shots are:

Cheap
Plentiful
Can be rolled into the flu shot you are already getting
And add some benefit either because immune levels drop over time and/or variants mean the original protection isn't that great anymore...

Sure. I'm already taking an annual flu shot anyway.

[O.city]

https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/s...282958337?s=21

[NotDonger]

First data that I've seen regarding vaccine efficacy regarding Delta and infection, FWIW:

https://www.macleans.ca/news/vaccine...anadian-study/

[NotDonger]

And:

[TLO]

Originally Posted by NotDonger

And:

Israel data seems to be the outlier. Wonder what Prison Bitch would have to say about this?

[TLO]

Our local hospital is filling up fast. Looking at opening another Covid floor. Or even possibly sending people out to other facilities.

[TLO]

Our census is at 47 today. 46 of them have not been vaccinated. The other one is a woman in her mid 90s who has a laundry list of other serious health issues. And they think she may be going home today or tomorrow.