***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]

I wish Israel was a little more forthcoming with their data.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by prhom

What makes you think new variants won’t keep popping up? It’s such an adaptive virus and there’s always going to be plenty of people for it to continue mutating among. Seems like it’ll just get better at spreading and staying just enough ahead of our vaccines to avoid eradication.

I am definitely concerned about more variants which is why it was important to get as many people vaccinated as possible before that happened to limit the ability for the virus to mutate, as it normally mutates during unchecked community spread. My only hope, since I think more variants are likely (welcome ozarks/arkansas variant), is that the mutations become less deadly as they will likely be more transmissible. The science would be fascinating if it wasn't also pretty frightening.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Swanman

I don't go downtown much but it would not surprise me. They lived through the really bad times last spring and remember it so the mask isn't some awful thing to them. I was down there in October and every single person for the most part was masked up, even outside. I live about 20 miles from the loop and around here, most have ditched masks because of vaccination or they just never wore them to begin with (or wore them with their nose/mouth hanging out). Dupage county has the highest vaccination percentage in the state but there are still pockets of anti-vaxxers here and there.

Its pretty much back to normal here. Some overly cautious people but I don't see too many masks.

Although I did get my hand slapped for grabbing an Uber home last night without a mask. The driver gave me one and they sent me a mask reminder email. This is where it gets a bit silly, imo. I drove to a brewery for a beer release yesterday, decided to have a couple and chose to Uber home. Since the brewery doesn't require masks, I didn't bring one. Are we just supposed keep one on us just in case? Screw that noise.

[O.city]

There’s only so many mutations that can happen before it mutated itself out of fitness for binding to ace2

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

There’s only so many mutations that can happen before it mutated itself out of fitness for binding to ace2

Have you seen anything on the press release from Isreal about the vaccine being significantly less effective?

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by O.city

There’s only so many mutations that can happen before it mutated itself out of fitness for binding to ace2

Transmissibility and Virulence.

If one increases, the other decreases.

They don't both go up in tandem.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Transmissibility and Virulence.

If one increases, the other decreases.

They don't both go up in tandem.

That’s not necessarily true

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

Have you seen anything on the press release from Isreal about the vaccine being significantly less effective?

Not really.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Transmissibility and Virulence.

If one increases, the other decreases.

They don't both go up in tandem.

This mutation doesn't seem to be a whole lot less virulent.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Not really.

Me either. Have been checking my regular go to's on Twitter. Nothing there.

[TLO]

We're in this Delta wave together.
Israel started later than UK with a very low case burden but now running parallel, as is the US. High numbers of cases but far lower severe illness than previous waves, thanks to vaccines https://t.co/EPyVnfQ1y5 pic.twitter.com/ASeTvo9rSR

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 17, 2021

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by O.city

That’s not necessarily true

Feel free to share examples.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Its pretty much back to normal here. Some overly cautious people but I don't see too many masks.

Although I did get my hand slapped for grabbing an Uber home last night without a mask. The driver gave me one and they sent me a mask reminder email. This is where it gets a bit silly, imo. I drove to a brewery for a beer release yesterday, decided to have a couple and chose to Uber home. Since the brewery doesn't require masks, I didn't bring one. Are we just supposed keep one on us just in case? Screw that noise.

It is not silly and the attitude shown in this post is part of the problem.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

It is not silly and the attitude shown in this post is part of the problem.

Nah, it's silly. The inconsistency is ridiculous.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Its pretty much back to normal here. Some overly cautious people but I don't see too many masks.

Although I did get my hand slapped for grabbing an Uber home last night without a mask. The driver gave me one and they sent me a mask reminder email. This is where it gets a bit silly, imo. I drove to a brewery for a beer release yesterday, decided to have a couple and chose to Uber home. Since the brewery doesn't require masks, I didn't bring one. Are we just supposed keep one on us just in case? Screw that noise.

Um, yes? How hard is that