***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.”

[suzzer99]

Some of Italian nurses & doctors after long hours of work in intensive care. ❤️���� pic.twitter.com/YAG9oVcgrq

— Travelito (@Travelito24) March 22, 2020

True heroes.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Pete is pretty awful for the most part and seems like the type that is always right and never admits he's wrong.

Yeah, I never admit when I am wrong.....

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by petegz28

No, and no one has been directed by our system to do so. Patient facing staff are required to take their temp before they leave for work and after they return every day. That has been the extent of it thus far.

Seemed like you’d have a fever or cough before you’d get anywhere near having to worry about lung function. Thanks for sharing that.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Actually it seems no one who is involved on the medical side really needs testing. Docs are moving forward assuming if the symptoms are there, treat them as an active case. Testing wont change treatment or how we deal with patients.....testing and all of the hand wringing over tests needs to be set aside and deal with the people.

How many tests would you be pleased with? If you had enough tests to make you happy would we have fewer people infected? And would the rate of expansion decrease if you had more tests?

I am pretty sure they test for influenza the very first thing and then if that is negative then they suspect Covid-19 probably.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

Seemed like you’d have a fever or cough before you’d get anywhere near having to worry about lung function. Thanks for sharing that.

The loss of lung function is caused by pneumonia. So yeah, I would think you would see other symptoms first. But for people who are at risk that could be a very short time between say an onset of fever and small cough to having trouble breathing.

As DR. FAUCI HAS SAID, most people who get this will have mild symptoms.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I am pretty sure they test for influenza the very first thing and then if that is negative then they suspect Covid-19 probably.

That has been my understanding as well. As far as I have heard they are not just testing you for Covid-19 and nothing else. And that would make sense. If they diagnose you with the flu they save a test and PPE gear. You may still need to be hospitalized though, of course.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That has been my understanding as well. As far as I have heard they are not just testing you for Covid-19 and nothing else. And that would make sense. If they diagnose you with the flu they save a test and PPE gear. You may still need to be hospitalized though, of course.

Still would need the PPE for influenza.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by petegz28

LOL. Love that bit!

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Still would need the PPE for influenza.

Fair point.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I get you have a bit of a doomsday take on it but so far a lot of your math isn't showing up. I hope it doesn't either for all of ours sake.

Our death rate if you will has been trending lower and lower. Granted that is helped by increasing numbers in total cases but still, it's better that it goes down than up.

We were supposed to be Italy by this time. Now those same people are saying it's going to take another 2 weeks and THEN we will be Italy. Even though they said 2 weeks ago we would be there by now.

Let's just hope you're wrong.

Again, I think you’re applying current infected and death rates when the time it takes for an infection to become serious/critical and lead to death is anywhere from a few days to two weeks or more. That’s why getting the overall infected numbers and rate of infection down now will keep the critical/death number down in 1-2 weeks.

And it technically isn’t “my” number with respect to the percentage that require hospitalization or ventilators. It’s what the government and WHO are saying. But I agree with you, let’s hope they’re wrong.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I never said I was Dr Fauci. So once again all you want to do is flip shit my way. I am very, very aware of what he and other medical professionals are saying, contrary to what you may think.

And you're being a dick, as usual.

You're entitled to your opinion. Don't get mad because someone is merely repeating what medical experts who know more than yourself have said. I'm merely pointing out the fact that if we don't practice social distance this virus' peak would be a hell of a lot worse than if we didn't. Who knows how bad it would be but it's pretty obvious our healthcare system wouldn't be able to handle it and a lot of people would die who didn't have to.

[Why Not?]

Canada and Australia pull out of 2020 Olympics. Feels a tad premature but I bet it starts a chain reaction.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

You're entitled to your opinion. Don't get mad because someone is merely repeating what medical experts who know more than yourself have said. I'm merely pointing out the fact that if we don't practice social distance this virus' peak would be a hell of a lot worse than if we didn't. Who knows how bad it would be but it's pretty obvious our healthcare system wouldn't be able to handle it and a lot of people would die who didn't have to.

No, you don't merely repeat what experts say. You toss in a butt load of backhanded comments with it and then act like you aren't.

Don't get mad because I am not pretending you do otherwise.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by petegz28

As DR. FAUCI HAS SAID, most people who get this will have mild symptoms.

He also said in one interview that Pneumonia is included in the mild symptoms and Pneumonia is not actually mild.

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

He also said in one interview that Pneumonia is included in the mild symptoms and Pneumonia is not actually mild.

This is true.

If you don’t get hospitalized you’re “mild.”