***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.”

[Discuss Thrower]

"Just a month"


It'd be one thing if people were being honest.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

No the math doesn't support you and you have already started your pivot with the "we probably should have locked down under H1N1". Yet you say apples and oranges in other comments, no hypocrisy here right?

Yes H1N1 originated in Mexico ( I stand corrected) but blew up in the US.

Edit: We won't agree, I get it. Good night I won't wreck this thread any further with Donger.

Yes, it does. I've given you the R0 and CFR of both. They aren't remotely comparable. If you understood the meaning and importance of those figures, and had the ability to do simple math, you'd understand why we've taken the actions we have.

But yes, please don't wreck this thread again.

[Discuss Thrower]

People in China need a green light from an app in order to move around the country https://t.co/xJYoExSoj8

— Bloomberg (@business) March 24, 2020

[FAX]

Some of you may find this of interest ...

Yesterday, I had a fairly long conversation with a friend who happens to be a pharmacist currently employed by Walgreens. I've known this guy for a very long time and he is legit and honest.

He said that their pharmacy has recently been inundated with prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine. He gave two brief examples; 1) 2 scripts presented simultaneously for 17-year old and 16-year old sisters (from 1 doctor) and 2) a 50-year old male who was taking blood pressure meds. These customers had records at Walgreens but nothing that indicated any need for this particular drug.

It has now reached the point that the pharmacists are forced to call the doctors and ask that they provide a clear diagnosis of some approved justification for prescribing this drug (like arthritis or malaria or whatever). They are doing this because their supply of hydroxychloroquine for approved use is now well below the threshold they consider necessary to provide for their existing customers.

FAX

[Perineum Ripper]

Will you guys take the pissing match to another thread or to private messages, please.



I hate checking this thread to see people ****ing arguing instead of posting news, and it’s normally the same people arguing

[BossChief]

Donger needs to learn how to do a fatality

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by FAX

Some of you may find this of interest ...

Yesterday, I had a fairly long conversation with a friend who happens to be a pharmacist currently employed by Walgreens. I've known this guy for a very long time and he is legit and honest.

He said that their pharmacy has recently been inundated with prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine. He gave two brief examples; 1) 2 scripts presented simultaneously for 17-year old and 16-year old sisters (from 1 doctor) and 2) a 50-year old male who was taking blood pressure meds. These customers had records at Walgreens but nothing that indicated any need for this particular drug.

It has now reached the point that the pharmacists are forced to call the doctors and ask that they provide a clear diagnosis of some approved justification for prescribing this drug (like arthritis or malaria or whatever). They are doing this because their supply of hydroxychloroquine for approved use is now well below the threshold they consider necessary to provide for their existing customers.

FAX

This is worrisome. In general we should not prescribing this on an outpatient basis. There is not nearly enough evidence to support this behavior

[FAX]

Originally Posted by SupDock

This is worrisome. In general we should not prescribing this on an outpatient basis. There is not nearly enough evidence to support this behavior

Worrisome? Yes. Utter madness? Also, yes.

Apparently, doctors make a bit of coin each time they write or phone in a prescription.

FAX

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by FAX

Worrisome? Yes. Utter madness? Also, yes.

Apparently, doctors make a bit of coin each time they write or phone in a prescription.

FAX

Most medicines, yes.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Most medicines, yes.

This is incorrect. Other than by virtue of the fact that prescribing a medication changes the complexity of a visit type in some cases

Generally it makes no difference.

For instance, treating strep throat with antibiotics is the same visit type as seeing a URI case with no prescription.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by mac459

Will you guys take the pissing match to another thread or to private messages, please.



I hate checking this thread to see people ****ing arguing instead of posting news, and it’s normally the same people arguing

It's correcting information, but I fully understand. I'm done.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by SupDock

This is incorrect. Other than by virtue of the fact the prescribing a medication changes the complexity of a visit type in some cases

Generally it makes no difference

I am not a Doctor but my ex-wife worked for one for over 20 years. They absolutely get kick backs from certain drug companies. They most certainly get commissions from big pharma companies. I know that the Doctor she worked for got them constantly. It was part of the reason he steered people certain directions in med choices and diagnosis.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I am not a Doctor but my ex-wife worked for one for over 20 years. They absolutely get kick backs from certain drug companies. They most certainly get commissions from big pharma companies. I know that the Doctor she worked for got them constantly. It was part of the reason he steered people certain directions in med choices and diagnosis.

Doesn’t work like that in Canada not saying it’s good or bad just saying

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I am not a Doctor but my ex-wife worked for one for over 20 years. They absolutely get kick backs from certain drug companies. They most certainly get commissions from big pharma companies. I know that the Doctor she worked for got them constantly. It was part of the reason he steered people certain directions in med choices and diagnosis.

I can't speak for how it was, but there are free lunches on occasion for hearing about a new drug . I'm not aware of any drug company paying individuals for prescribing meds. You can actually look up any provider to see how they have been compensated by drug companies.

This information is reported, and can be searched by anyone.

https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov

The major outlier would be subspecialists getting compensated for giving talks about a drug to a group of physicians at a conference.

[Donger]

Great news out of Italy. Second consecutive day of a thousand fewer news cases. Unfortunately, Spain and Germany had the opposite.