***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]

You guys all need to prepare to get this. It's just blazing thru.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

You guys all need to prepare to get this. It's just blazing thru.

I'm prepared. Just give me that hybrid immunity and let's move on

[TLO]

Now 7 studies for Omicron's reduced lung infectivity, viral load, inflammation and overall pathogenicity (5 in vivo models, 2 lab). New in vivo model report link: https://t.co/1LHztzPX3T Updated summary table pic.twitter.com/2AF4fLaqLv

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 4, 2022

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

I'm prepared. Just give me that hybrid immunity and let's move on

For sure.

I'm good to go now I guess.

[BWillie]

1 Milsky cases lool

Hopefully one month from now we won't be at some crazy death spike. Early reports of Omicron being quite a bit less severe are promising but if 3x as many people get it, and even if it is only half as deadly, still more deaths would result.

[DaFace]

I'm honestly a bit annoyed that I'm sick right now with a cold that is NOT COVID (as are a number of family members). While I would have felt a bit guilty if we'd spread it around to each other over Xmas, it sucks to be fighting off a head cold and not even getting the immunity boost.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'm honestly a bit annoyed that I'm sick right now with a cold that is NOT COVID (as are a number of family members). While I would have felt a bit guilty if we'd spread it around to each other over Xmas, it sucks to be fighting off a head cold and not even getting the immunity boost.

LOL.. same. My daughter got some mild symptoms right before Christmas. Inevitably gave it to me. Her test came back as influenza, and I'm like "I got sick for nothing?"

[BigBeauford]

A bit of good small anecdotal data: our infectious disease doc was telling our covid group that he is seeing patients who are unvaccinated and on AIRVO actually improve and are coming off of it, unlike during the Delta wave. Very good news.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BWillie

1 Milsky cases lool

Hopefully one month from now we won't be at some crazy death spike. Early reports of Omicron being quite a bit less severe are promising but if 3x as many people get it, and even if it is only half as deadly, still more deaths would result.

One study estimated that Omicron is about 1/4th as deadly. If you assume that vaccination / previous infection still prevents severe illness in roughly the same proportions as Delta (~90% or whatever - which is an assumption but doesn't seem to be completely false), that still suggests that hospitalization rates should stay pretty low even with a shit ton of infections. Time will tell, but the fact that cases already peaked in South Africa without a noticeable spike in deaths is very promising.

At this point I'm almost as concerned about the economic hit of so many people being sick at once as I am about hospitalizations, but we'll see.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by O.city

You guys all need to prepare to get this. It's just blazing thru.

When I go to worldometers to check case numbers, you have to scroll down past a worldwide daily cases chart. It's a straight line up. Easily above double any previous peak

It amazes me. Thank goodness, the less deadly part seems to be being proven out.

[TLO]

Is this the most infectious disease in history?

[Hoover]

Couple things.

1. I got the covid back in Mid-November, wife and son ended up with it too. Two bad days of headaches was the worse, still have not regained all my taste and smell.My son and wife were not noticeably sick.

When I got tested I actually wanted to get it and deal with it plus gain some immunity. The problem is that this has been so politicized you can't find good guidance. I'm vaccinated but not boosted. Since I got the Covid in November, I don't need to rush out and get boosted, but the government and medical worlds just push getting more shots.

2. I'm more concerned about why China is shutting shit down in Xi where there has been an outbreak. Any news on that?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Couple things.

1. I got the covid back in Mid-November, wife and son ended up with it too. Two bad days of headaches was the worse, still have not regained all my taste and smell.My son and wife were not noticeably sick.

When I got tested I actually wanted to get it and deal with it plus gain some immunity. The problem is that this has been so politicized you can't find good guidance. I'm vaccinated but not boosted. Since I got the Covid in November, I don't need to rush out and get boosted, but the government and medical worlds just push getting more shots.

2. I'm more concerned about why China is shutting shit down in Xi where there has been an outbreak. Any news on that?

On number 2, China has adopted a "Covid-zero" policy. Which is insane, but it is what it is.

Hopefully that's the truth of the matter and it's not something else.

[TLO]

Regarding #1, I'm not a medical expert, but I wouldn't worry about a booster shot anytime in the near future. You got your booster shot through natural infection.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Hoover

1. I got the covid back in Mid-November, wife and son ended up with it too. Two bad days of headaches was the worse, still have not regained all my taste and smell.My son and wife were not noticeably sick.

When I got tested I actually wanted to get it and deal with it plus gain some immunity. The problem is that this has been so politicized you can't find good guidance. I'm vaccinated but not boosted. Since I got the Covid in November, I don't need to rush out and get boosted, but the government and medical worlds just push getting more shots.

I'm no scientist, I don't even do my own research, but one would think that the combination of natural immunity and the initial vax would be just about as effective as the vax and booster.

I'm not even sure I got covid (I was sick after close contact Oct 2020 but never got a test), but I'm not rushing out to get the booster. I thought that was supposed to be for people at high risk, but suddenly its assumed everyone should get it(?). Add that to the new strain being less severe and I'm not really worried at all.