***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.”

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Friend of mines wife is a flight attendant and just tested positive. Mild headache and runny nose.

Oldest son home for Christmas and came down with sore throat stuffy nose Christmas night. I went to bed with runny nose last night. No tests available at the stores as there seems to be a shortage. Suppose I could go with my son to a local urgent care and get tested but to what end? At this point we all are getting it eventually

I woke up with a headache behind my eyes, a light fever, runny nose, and a random cough every now and then after having Christmas dinner with some family. I'm definitely not making an effort to go get tested unless whatever it is gets worse, but I might have the grocery getter see if there is a test on a shelf anywhere just to enter TLO's comparison.

I also have family in another midwestern state who all just came down with it. One of the family members was being tested every few days at their job and popped positive without symptoms. They tested the rest of the house and all but one had it with only two of the kids having snotty noses.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by Donger

96,000 cases yesterday with only 12 states reporting. But if this variant really is much less virulent than the others, and it sure seems like it is, this could be the end game of this ****er. Hope so.

This is my take. Lets all have covid parties and finally end this crap lol

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by jdubya

This is my take. Lets all have covid parties and finally end this crap lol

Since some people will end up in the hospital, I don't think we need to go out of our way to make it spread any faster than it is. It's spreading crazy fast as is and it seems likely that by spring there won't be a significant number left who are: Unvaccinated and haven't gotten it.

So barring a new mutation that is still capable of spreading and capable of making people really sick (while possible it seems unlikely) this should be the end game for the serious pandemic. As opposed to the nuisance covid which we will be stuck with.

[Rain Man]

Dumb question here, but if I'm vaccinated and boosted, can I still (at some point) get a test to see if I've had it in the past? About once every second month I'll get a runny nose or headache that's really mild, and I'm not going to go get tested every time. Most likely it's just due to a weather change or something and it's gone in a day. But at some point during an annual physical it would be nice to know if I can mark "plague survivor" off of my bucket list.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Dumb question here, but if I'm vaccinated and boosted, can I still (at some point) get a test to see if I've had it in the past? About once every second month I'll get a runny nose or headache that's really mild, and I'm not going to go get tested every time. Most likely it's just due to a weather change or something and it's gone in a day. But at some point during an annual physical it would be nice to know if I can mark "plague survivor" off of my bucket list.

I don't think so. Since you're vaccinated and boosted, an antibody test would come back as positive but induced by the vaccines (hopefully), I think.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Donger

I don't think so. Since you're vaccinated and boosted, an antibody test would come back as positive but induced by the vaccines (hopefully), I think.

Yeah, my mom wanted to go get an antibody test after she (in all likelihood) had covid. It took me and my wife about 3 days to convince her that she'd be wasting her time and money by doing so because she's vaccinated.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I don't think so. Since you're vaccinated and boosted, an antibody test would come back as positive but induced by the vaccines (hopefully), I think.

This is correct

[O.city]

Have to get an antibody test specific to the nucleocapsid instead of spike

[Rain Man]

So it sounds like the answer is that if it's possible at all, it would cost me more than a pizza to get the right test. I'll live with the uncertainty.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah it’s everywhere here. People dropping left and right with it

Luckily no serious illness

Seems the same in my circles. I felt bad yesterday and woke up exhausted today with a headache. Didn't even think about covid until a coworker mentioned on a call that he has a test scheduled today due to close contact but woke up today with a sore throat and runny nose.

Neither of us expect it to be much (everyone is vaxxed) but are preparing for operating our division on a decently limited staff once everyone starts to get sick from the holiday gatherings.

[chinaski]

Nothing to add really, but they opened a Rapid Test location down the street from me recently and the place has been absolutely packed the last few days. Certainly busier looking than the City/County testing places over the summer/fall. I'm in Los Angeles btw.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Nothing to add really, but they opened a Rapid Test location down the street from me recently and the place has been absolutely packed the last few days. Certainly busier looking than the City/County testing places over the summer/fall. I'm in Los Angeles btw.

I also heard that testing is getting tougher and tougher to schedule, and the at-home tests are sold out all over the place.

[Donger]

Yeesh:

The National Football League had 96 of its players test positive for Covid-19 on Monday, the league announced today.

With an additional 10 positive tests among players over the weekend, a total of 106 players have been placed on the league’s Reserve/Covid-19 list since Christmas.

The NFL postponed three games last week but has yet to cancel a game so far this season.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by sedated

Seems the same in my circles. I felt bad yesterday and woke up exhausted today with a headache. Didn't even think about covid until a coworker mentioned on a call that he has a test scheduled today due to close contact but woke up today with a sore throat and runny nose.

Neither of us expect it to be much (everyone is vaxxed) but are preparing for operating our division on a decently limited staff once everyone starts to get sick from the holiday gatherings.

Pretty much the most common symptoms I have heard from those near me that have tested positive: Headache, sore throat and runny nose

[carlos3652]

I’m now negative but I still have cold like symptoms. Coughing / Gunk.
My sister / bro in law (vaxxed) are back to normal as is my wife (who still has small loss of taste)
My in laws (unvax) just tested negative after 10 days and they are feeling much better. They are planning on vaccinating when they can.
2 cousins tested positive (vaxxed) also mild symptoms.
My parents were boosted and had symptoms but wasn’t sure if it was do to vax or exposure to us.

It ripped through my family and thankfully no hospitalizations.

Hopefully we can claim immunity for a least a season or two.