***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.”

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by BWillie

While this is true, the economy was in great shape before this happened. Which I would hope would mean a recovery would be easier. I don't know how to properly say this, but I wouldn't preoccupy myself in a bad economy strictly based on an unavoidable virus. That is just bad luck. If we had a bad economy, down turning even more before this that is scarier to me. Yes there will be hard times for all, but hopefully our previously strong economy will boon even further once we rid this from the world and we can revel and celebrate success together. Maybe it could, gasp, unify us the way 9/11 did. At least temporarily.

Your best post ever!!

[BigRedChief]

Email from Quest diagnostics. I thought after the press conference that Quest and Labcorp would be doing testing. But, it looks like they are just going to process the specimens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please do not go to a Quest patient service center. Quest does not collect COVID-19 specimens – only your doctor can do this

[eDave]

Originally Posted by wazu

Nearly 20% of households in the U.S. have already experienced a layoff or a reduction in work hours because of the coronavirus, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.https://t.co/8kiY0Ocl3V

— NPR (@NPR) March 18, 2020

People all around me getting laid off.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Your best post ever!!

I tend to agree. With him.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Oregon schools now closed thru April 28th.

So the hippies are scared. Shocking. It’s amazing how that state has went to shit over the last 30 years.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Email from Quest diagnostics. I thought after the press conference that Quest and Labcorp would be doing testing. But, it looks like they are just going to process the specimens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please do not go to a Quest patient service center. Quest does not collect COVID-19 specimens – only your doctor can do this

I never took it that way. I always just assumed they were progressing specimens I guess?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by eDave

People all around me getting laid off.

Hearing it all over too. We are seeing it on this board too. Our economy is build on people spending money. I don't need an economics degree to know we are in trouble.

Asking and in some cases mandating that those spenders stay at home is going to hurt everyone. Good thing is once this spread stops, we can go back out and spend money but, you may not have a job by then.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Hearing it all over too. We are seeing it on this board too. Our economy is build on people spending money. I don't need an economics degree to know we are in trouble.

Asking and in some cases mandating that those spenders stay at home is going to hurt everyone. Good thing is once this spread stops, we can go back out and spend money but, you may not have a job by then.

It's foolish and stupid. ****! We are really doing this. To ourselves!

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We need to face facts and meet the challenge. We will eventually be okay. The economy and jobs will come back. Its just going to take awhile.

It'd be easier to face the facts if we knew what we were truly looking at. At this point we have no idea, unfortunately.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by wazu

Nearly 20% of households in the U.S. have already experienced a layoff or a reduction in work hours because of the coronavirus, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.https://t.co/8kiY0Ocl3V

— NPR (@NPR) March 18, 2020

Look, you want to go ballistic, go right ahead.

But they already have at least two positive results from tests they've done using the HIV vaccine and one other one.

That is a fact.

It won't be all that long before they announce that they have a vaccine ready for production and throw up a timetable for how long it'll take to get everyone vaccinated. And once they announce that, the market will reverse course, your 401(k) or whatever will start growing again, and everyone will start going back to work.

This is temporary.

[Titty Meat]

NYC locking down like SF. I expect most major cities will do the same in weeks to come.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Look, you want to go ballistic, go right ahead.

But they already have at least two positive results from tests they've done using the HIV vaccine and one other one.

That is a fact.

It won't be all that long before they announce that they have a vaccine ready for production and throw up a timetable for how long it'll take to get everyone vaccinated. And once they announce that, the market will reverse course, your 401(k) or whatever will start growing again, and everyone will start going back to work.

This is temporary.

I just wish we knew if/when we could expect the antiviral's.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

So the hippies are scared. Shocking. It’s amazing how that state has went to shit over the last 30 years.

Can’t wait for a vaccine to be ready that you’ll refuse.

Lulz

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

NYC locking down like SF. I expect most major cities will do the same in weeks to come.

Where are you seeing this?

[eDave]

Originally Posted by wazu

It's foolish and stupid. ****! We are really doing this. To ourselves!

I will say again... When social media started, I knew we were ****ed as a society. More ****ed than when 24/7 news cycles started.

I hate knowing the deepist, most inner thoughts of humans (including my friends). Maybe I've been naive.

AI sounds like a good alternative to me.