***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.”

[POND_OF_RED]

Just got home from the Chiefs game in LA and tested positive yesterday. I’m vaccinated, but haven’t gotten the booster yet. The other 7 people in my group have all had their booster and have all tested negative so far for what that’s worth. The only symptom is a scratchy throat, but it’s hard to tell if that’s from the COVID or from losing my voice at the game.

[suzzer99]

Why did you get tested?

[bdj23]

I woke up this morning with a bit of a sore throat and a slight fever. After a shower and some Tylenol I feel fine. Kinda weird to get a random ass fever out of nowhere.

[BigBeauford]

So many people I know are sick right now. Just about simultaneously. This thing is spreading like crazy. I know I'm fighting something off, but it's pretty mild.

[bdj23]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

So many people I know are sick right now. Just about simultaneously. This thing is spreading like crazy. I know I'm fighting something off, but it's pretty mild.

I was planning on finding a testing site had my fever not have dropped today. I just don't feel like taking a bunch of unpaid days off of work with my thumb up my ass waiting for test results.

The rapid tests are pointless

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Why did you get tested?

I went to 2 Chiefs games in 5 days and had a wedding to go to last night. I also work in healthcare and travel all over the country. The homes tests are readily available and easy to use. Saved me from exposing a ton of people at the wedding, on a flight today, and working at a hospital tomorrow.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

So many people I know are sick right now. Just about simultaneously. This thing is spreading like crazy. I know I'm fighting something off, but it's pretty mild.

With actual covid?

The local school system is a damn germ factory. Some of the grade levels have had large amounts of kids missing time and most of the parents have the same persistent cough their kids bring home. Every game and meeting feels like you're walking into a petrie dish of everything under the sun that's just trying to ruin your tomorrow.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by ghak99

With actual covid?

Well yeah. All sickness now is covid.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by TLO

Hospitalizations due to covid are going up. However about half of them weren't admitted for covid. They were found to be infected when they were brought in to the hospital.

Then it's not a hospitalization due to covid

[Sure-Oz]

My neighbor got it last Saturday and is 2 shot vaccinated and has pneumonia. Been feeling crummy and coughing but almost through it and has to get treatment tomorrow. He's over 65 and his son believes he'd be hospitalized right now or worse if he wasn't vaccinated. No prior health issues.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Just got home from the Chiefs game in LA and tested positive yesterday. I’m vaccinated, but haven’t gotten the booster yet. The other 7 people in my group have all had their booster and have all tested negative so far for what that’s worth. The only symptom is a scratchy throat, but it’s hard to tell if that’s from the COVID or from losing my voice at the game.

Hope you avoid symptoms and feeling terrible.

[O.city]

Your periodic reminder: here are the most recent NYC data, and (once again) it is the *exact opposite* of what we would see if there were antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) from the vaccines:https://t.co/irkXZTBj4p pic.twitter.com/EkN8WiPHdg

— Derek Lowe (@Dereklowe) December 20, 2021

[TLO]

I'm feeling pretty bleak over this whole thing again

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

I'm feeling pretty bleak over this whole thing again

Nah. I wouldn't fret to much.

We've baked in so much immunity not to this thing from previous infections and vaccinations, there's not nearly as much bite.

[loochy]

I got a moderna booster on Friday. I had a backache Friday night and Saturday, and that's it. The shot site didn't even get sore.


I got my shot for free at a county public health clinic that is located very near my son's school. I just popped in at 8 after dropping him off, got my shot, and I was out in 20 minutes. There was not another person there. It was vastly different to my initial vaccination experience with the county, which had police directing traffic and lines that were hundreds of people long.