***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.”

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by DaFace

This is informative.

A lot of the questions I’ve had. The observation that “flattening the curve” will actually lead to many more deaths as the health care system is taxed for a longer period of time and won’t be able to attend to other emergencies wasn’t something I had been thinking about.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

If I hear/read 'unprecedented' one more time..

Mahomes is an unprecedented talent.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by LTL

If we run we out we out we use a Vortran. Single patient use disposable. Have used one for transport. We have a couple old birds that we could use as well. If it came to it we might to resort to that.

Yeah, I'd transfer patients home on those. One time the patient had been shot and had to go to a gang infested neighborhood. I volunteered. We got there, there was at least 50 or so of his obviously gang members there to welcome him home. Lots of comments about we finally see a white man here, why is this the only time we see white people. They were just nervous. I didn't take it as a threat. I was keeping their friend alive. Wonder if hospitals still do that or just transfer patients via ambulances?

[Donger]

Non-precedented.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

If they're expecting half or more to get the virus, and most of those will recover. Those people will be immune and not contagious, right? Or am I missing something? If so, it seems like they could get back on track and get the economy moving again. Go on cruises, go on flights, whatever you want, right?

Hopefully research has already started on the possibility of a herd immunity-type effect with COVID-19.

More people who get the virus and "recover" from it (since 80%+ of people who get the virus will have minimal to no symptoms, "recovery" is nothing) will potentially build up an immunity and the more people with immunity will eventually drown out the spread of the virus.

The draconian/North Korea-style "social distancing" measures are preventing this possibility as well as completely destroying the economy.

[Kman34]

The thing about the CPAP too is there is no way to monitor the oxygen levels of the person who is using it and no alarm if it fails.. I guess if hospitals are over run with patients I couldn’t get in I’ll be glad to have it... beats having nothing...

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by wazu

One other idea is to maybe not order the complete shutdown of the entire economy.

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by Kman34

The thing about the CPAP too is there is no way to monitor the oxygen levels of the person who is using it and no alarm if it fails.. I guess if hospitals are over run with patients I couldn’t get in I’ll be glad to have it... beats having nothing...

I’m also assuming I’m sick enough to need it.. Hopefully I don’t get it and if I do it’s mild..

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Kman34

The thing about the CPAP too is there is no way to monitor the oxygen levels of the person who is using it and no alarm if it fails.. I guess if hospitals are over run with patients I couldn’t get in I’ll be glad to have it... beats having nothing...

Yeah, if its that or death. Why not, run it till the motor gives out.

[FloridaMan88]

Just to be clear, the state of Kansas actually cancelled public schools for the rest of the school year in response to 16 positive COVID-19 cases in the entire state?

And how many of those "cases" are experiencing minor symptoms no worse than the common cold?

What happens to soon-to-be graduating seniors?

Does everyone just automatically get moved up a grade?

Unreal the potential long term damage that is being done to society by the hysteria/panic.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Well it's not going to have a good effect on the economy unless all utilities, rent payments and mortgages are amnestied for the foreseeable future... which isn't a good thing economically.

The only way to lessen the blow is to freeze everything and then find food and medical purchases. No invoices due until one month after the emergency ends. Forgiving interest isn’t going to work (not sure anything will) unless you want an economy built on unsustainable debt that most will have a difficult time repaying.

[LTL]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yeah, I'd transfer patients home on those. One time the patient had been shot and had to go to a gang infested neighborhood. I volunteered. We got there, there was at least 50 or so of his obviously gang members there to welcome him home. Lots of comments about we finally see a white man here, why is this the only time we see white people. They were just nervous. I didn't take it as a threat. I was keeping their friend alive. Wonder if hospitals still do that or just transfer patients via ambulances?

Hospitals I’ve been at it’s been EMS. From my experiences each hospitals and even towns and cities have their own way of doing things so it’s possible that they still do it.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Just to be clear, the state of Kansas actually cancelled public schools for the rest of the school year in response to 16 positive COVID-19 cases in the entire state?

And how many of those "cases" are experiencing minor symptoms no worse than the common cold?

What happens to soon-to-be graduating seniors?

Does everyone just automatically get moved up a grade?

Unreal the potential long term damage that is being done to society by the hysteria/panic.

Don't worry, even though all of society may collapse as the world heads into a second Great Depression, you'll be safe from the virus for a few more weeks when you will be inevitably exposed anyway.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Thats a total BS story. We shouldn't be scaring people from using their CPAP or inhalers.

CPAP just blows air into your lungs. Same air that's already in the patients lungs and in the ambient air. Nursing home patient is already inhaling and exhaling that air, no different from us. But, without CPAP, no stage III sleep, a compromised elderly patient in a nursing home could die in days.

Now, if you dont clean the CPAP tubing, you can get all kinds of bugs in it that will cause you to get infections. But that true with all the Planeteers on here using CPAP too. If they are confirmed to have the virus, just treat it as an infected area.

Nebulizers are used by people with COPD and Asthma to breathe in medicine that has been broken down into a mist that it crosses over into your blood stream faster. The patient gets more relief faster. Again, the patient is exhaling their own air anyway.

Here is the story. The quote I referenced was from a first responder:

https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-day...er-in-kirkland

Still don’t know if it is BS (but I take your word that it is).

[DaneMcCloud]

White House Invoking the Defense Production Act