***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.”

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Originally Posted by Monticore

I wouldn't trust any of these individual trials as most have proven to have a lot of holes, but I am sure the right people are looking into it there is a reason it takes years to get drugs approved and not 2 months.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19

So was the letter true or not?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by loochy

But don't forget that these aren't new drugs. We already know the sides and they are already in production. All we need is confirmation of effectiveness.

this combination of drugs still has risks and giving them without the proof they actually help could be considered bad medicine.

I have seen some where only some get better , some still die maybe they might have lived without getting the meds or maybe some would have gotten better by themselves.

maybe it is just me but it takes me 6 months of research to decide what my next pair of shoes will be.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

do you think at any point he poked her with a stick?

Stop quoting this asshat.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

So was the letter true or not?

can't read it work blocks some stuff out.

[BleedingRed]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marybet.../#5b0bfcf95b84

looks like the world is waking up to the drug Administration talked about

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Donger

If you want to engage me again on this matter, please go to DC, and I will correct you on what data you think is wrong. Thanks.

And for the record for those not familiar with Marcellus' inability to admit being wrong, he still thinks a certain leader did not withhold aid from a country, because he eventually released said aid. Even when presented with a quote from said leader acknowledging that he withheld aid, Marcellus refuses to admit his error.

I'm giving that before any of you not familiar with him decide to waste your time.

You are literally a dishonest douchebag. You cant dispute my data so you resort to lies like this. **** off.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I wouldn't trust any of these individual trials as most have proven to have a lot of holes, but I am sure the right people are looking into it there is a reason it takes years to get drugs approved and not 2 months.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19

Actually no one gives a shit about the FDA considering their slow response time on most things.

Other countries are using this including us now

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marybet.../#5b0bfcf95b84

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

So was the letter true or not?

had a quick read sure it could be true but another doctor might have d completely different results but those doctors are less likely to publish those.

also I don't think the average age is fifteen years old. I assume a typo

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by TLO

Stop quoting this asshat.

Am I the asshat or is he the asshat? I was just making bad jokes as it keeps me sane in the situation.

[BleedingRed]

“Despite the limitations of this study, in the absence of any effective treatment, in this urgent situation, this Plaquenil and Azithromycin combination therapy should be given to patients with COVID-19 as a treatment option,” Ying Zhang, a professor of microbiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, wrote in an email. “For now, there is no time to wait.”

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Am I the asshat or is he the asshat? I was just making bad jokes as it keeps me sane in the situation.

He is. Well you both kind of are. But mostly him.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Actually no one gives a shit about the FDA considering their slow response time on most things.

Other countries are using this including us now

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marybet.../#5b0bfcf95b84

Some doctors might not want to prescribe it without approval for legal and litigious reasons .

"In the meantime, scientists said larger, more rigorous studies must be launched to answer questions of efficacy, dosing, duration, and potential adverse drug interactions — for this and other COVID treatments" from the link

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

“Despite the limitations of this study, in the absence of any effective treatment, in this urgent situation, this Plaquenil and Azithromycin combination therapy should be given to patients with COVID-19 as a treatment option,” Ying Zhang, a professor of microbiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, wrote in an email. “For now, there is no time to wait.”

This is much different than treating every outpatient case with consistent symptoms with these meds.

I am all for trying this on hospitalized patients.

The above linked letter doesn't specify if the patients he treated were Covid-19 positive or not, or if they were even tested. As a reminder, the majority of patients with these symptoms do well and get better on their own.

This is why double blinded, randomized studies are needed to prove efficacy.

[Monticore]

just had a quick chat with ER doc and she seemed to think the studies coming out are still a bit weak , in the early stages it can be hard if is unilateral presenting pneumonias whether they are bacterial or viral and some are presenting with other viral loads on top of covid like influenza and RSV.

I am sure there a lot more factors as well before you can just label something as a cure.

[FloridaMan88]

Gun stores ordered shut in LA...

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/...4-20-intl-hnk/

Gun stores in Los Angeles have been declared a nonessential business and have been forced to close, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement Tuesday.

Villanueva also announced the department will add 1,300 deputies to beef up patrols.

"There are hundreds of businesses which, through no fault of their own, do not fall under the Governor’s definition of critical infrastructure," the sheriff said. "As a result, I have instructed my deputies to enforce closures of businesses which have disregarded the Governor’s order (gun stores, strip clubs, and other non-designated businesses)."

This directive comes after reports that gun stores in Los Angeles have seen an increase in sales due to coronavirus concerns.