***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.”

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@michaelshure: Yesterday, of the 398 COVID patients hospitalized in LA County, zero were vaccinated https://twitter.com/ktla/status/1415781582091161601

Well...they will be, if they make it out okay

[sedated]

Curious what people think when they see someone out with a mask currently. Do you assume they are vaccinated and overly cautious? Or has the mask become the identifier of someone who isn't vaccinated?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by sedated

Curious what people think when they see someone out with a mask currently. Do you assume they are vaccinated and overly cautious? Or has the mask become the identifier of someone who isn't vaccinated?

I see so few people in masks anymore that the people I do see wearing them stick out like a sore thumb.

I generally assume the people wearing the mask have some sort of health issue.

[R Clark]

I think it’s someone being careful trying to protect themselves from the unvaccinated lol

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by R Clark

I think it’s someone being careful trying to protect themselves from the unvaccinated lol

Yep. I have to assume it's a very small percentage of unvaccinated people who are still wearing masks.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by TLO

I see so few people in masks anymore that the people I do see wearing them stick out like a sore thumb.

I generally assume the people wearing the mask have some sort of health issue.

Yep. I see maybe 1 or 2 per 50 people. I either assume they're either overly cautious or have another health issue.

There's no way it's an indicator of vaccination because that would mean we're at like 90% here and I'm sure it's more like 40%.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by TLO

I see so few people in masks anymore that the people I do see wearing them stick out like a sore thumb.



I generally assume the people wearing the mask have some sort of health issue.

I assume it's 3 things,they're being cautious and have loved ones that could be effected even if they are vaccinated, 2 that small percent that isn't vaccinated and is doing what they can till they get a reason to get it and 3 have health issues and don't trust most people since vaccination numbers are low.

All kids under 12 should be masking up with delta

[NotDonger]

Originally Posted by sedated

Curious what people think when they see someone out with a mask currently. Do you assume they are vaccinated and overly cautious? Or has the mask become the identifier of someone who isn't vaccinated?

The former, by far.

I've actually noticed in my area an increase in people wearing masks. A few weeks ago, it was maybe 5% wearing. I went to the local "grocery store" today and it was probably 20%

[TLO]

Something else I was pondering over today. I think we're lucky we're having this rise in cases during the summer. I think this particular variant is transmissible enough that the heat and humidity have a limited impact on it, but at the same time I think if this were to hit during winter there would be an even higher case total throughout the country.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

Something else I was pondering over today. I think we're lucky we're having this rise in cases during the summer. I think this particular variant is transmissible enough that the heat and humidity have a limited impact on it, but at the same time I think if this were to hit during winter there would be an even higher case total throughout the country.

I think it's highly likely this will spike again this fall. Hopefully nowhere near the levels we saw last fall, but I have to believe it's coming.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by sedated

Curious what people think when they see someone out with a mask currently. Do you assume they are vaccinated and overly cautious? Or has the mask become the identifier of someone who isn't vaccinated?

If I am by myself I don't really care since I am vaccinated. However, if I am with my kids (6 and 8), I am probably masked up to set an example for them and I damn sure assume the person is non-vaccinated just for safety and try to steer clear. My opinion of the average person has definitely not improved since March 2020.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I think it's highly likely this will spike again this fall. Hopefully nowhere near the levels we saw last fall, but I have to believe it's coming.

I think the spikes could come from the schools in areas where they stop requiring masks for un-vaccinated kids/teachers. And also just the general opening up of mass events like concerts and such. The calendar up here in the Chicago area for concerts and stuff like that is huge.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Swanman

If I am by myself I don't really care since I am vaccinated. However, if I am with my kids (6 and 8), I am probably masked up to set an example for them and I damn sure assume the person is non-vaccinated just for safety and try to steer clear. My opinion of the average person has definitely not improved since March 2020.

When we are out with our kid we do the same. My daughter never had an issue wearing them and we just don't want her to feel isolated. I definitely don't want to get it and get her sick.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Swanman

I think the spikes could come from the schools in areas where they stop requiring masks for un-vaccinated kids/teachers. And also just the general opening up of mass events like concerts and such. The calendar up here in the Chicago area for concerts and stuff like that is huge.

Is Chicago still heavily masked up? I was up there memorial day weekend and even outdoors it was like 95% masks

[loochy]

Originally Posted by sedated

Curious what people think when they see someone out with a mask currently. Do you assume they are vaccinated and overly cautious? Or has the mask become the identifier of someone who isn't vaccinated?

Lol. The unvaccinated are the ones that don't give a damn, so they're definitely not the ones wearing masks.