***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.”

[eDave]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't know what you mean by "it's coming" but yes, we know it is everywhere. That doesn't mean it isn't worse in some areas than others.

Phoenix proper, and surrounding burbs are still reporting nothing. Mayor said he does not expect a lockdown. Life's not THAT abnormal here. Strip clubs are open. Christies was packed last Friday (when I drove by).

[petegz28]

Here is some perspective. Italy has thrown the kitchen sink at this problem. We on the other hand haven't even begun to take what would be truly drastic measures. The National Guard is just starting to assist in certain areas. We are just now starting to have private industry start making things like ventilators and masks. We have not officially locked down anything.

While the steps we have taken seem drastic and they are, they are nothing close to what we can do if we have too.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by eDave

Phoenix proper, and surrounding burbs are still reporting nothing. Mayor said he does not expect a lockdown. Life's not THAT abnormal here.

My Dad and Step Mom live there. In a retirement community no less. Them and all their neighbors are the "at risk" crowd and yes, they confirm what you are saying.

The east coast is going to have problems simply because they live on top of each other.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Here is some perspective. Italy has thrown the kitchen sink at this problem. We on the other hand haven't even begun to take what would be truly drastic measures. The National Guard is just starting to assist in certain areas. We are just now starting to have private industry start making things like ventilators and masks. We have not officially locked down anything.

While the steps we have taken seem drastic and they are, they are nothing close to what we can do if we have too.

What you do today shows up in 2 weeks. I don’t feel like you’re understanding that

To stop or slow what’s happening now, we needed to do something 2 weeks ago

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by eDave

Phoenix proper, and surrounding burbs are still reporting nothing. Mayor said he does not expect a lockdown. Life's not THAT abnormal here. Strip clubs are open. Christies was packed last Friday (when I drove by).

cities of Miami, Tampa locked down. St. Pete tried but Local County over ruled them. Govenor not doing much of anything about lockdowns or closing any businesses.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

cities of Miami, Tampa locked down. St. Pete tried but Local County over ruled them. Govenor not doing much of anything about lockdowns or closing any businesses.

Springfield is locked down

Kc and stl I think are too. Most of mo

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

What you do today shows up in 2 weeks. I don’t feel like you’re understanding that

To stop or slow what’s happening now, we needed to do something 2 weeks ago

2 weeks is not a hard and fast timeline. And we started doing things weeks ago. Even months ago. I understand it fine. This didn't start last week. It's almost like you are forgetting about WA state. Which is ironic to say the least seeing as until this week they were all everyone was talking about. They were supposed to have died out by now if we go by the people you are referring too.

"They" don't always know what "they" are talking about. Just like I don't and you don't.

And again, in 2 weeks we still will not have the outcome Italy is having. That much I do know.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Springfield is locked down

Kc and stl I think are too. Most of mo

KC area is locked down until April 24th.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

2 weeks is not a hard and fast timeline. And we started doing things weeks ago. Even months ago. I understand it fine. This didn't start last week. It's almost like you are forgetting about WA state. Which is ironic to say the least seeing as until this week they were all everyone was talking about. They were supposed to have died out by now if we go by the people you are referring too.

"They" don't always know what "they" are talking about. Just like I don't and you don't.

And again, in 2 weeks we still will not have the outcome Italy is having. That much I do know.

Loom at the places that locked down earlier and harder

San Fran and such

Some places waited and weren’t strict enough

[petegz28]

At the rate we are going, if you believe China, we will not have as many deaths as they did when we hit the number of cases they have. Let alone anything close to what Italy or Spain have.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Loom at the places that locked down earlier and harder

San Fran and such

Some places waited and weren’t strict enough

And some places are just logistically worse for this than others. Such as NY where people literally live on top of each other.

In LA EVERYONE drives to work.

In NY EVERYONE takes the subway.

People live in houses in LA

People live in apartments in NY

The point is regardless we will not end up with the same result as Italy.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Loom at the places that locked down earlier and harder

San Fran and such

Some places waited and weren’t strict enough

I promise you over the next 2 weeks you will see the recovery numbers skyrocket.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by petegz28

My Dad and Step Mom live there. In a retirement community no less. Them and all their neighbors are the "at risk" crowd and yes, they confirm what you are saying.

The east coast is going to have problems simply because they live on top of each other.

I'm most likely wrong on no reports. They are probably rolled up under Maricopa county or something. Maricopa is a city outside of Phoenix as well. That number looks way high. And there were reports of our first case was an ASU student. Bad data gathering.

[RINGLEADER]

I have family in Italy and it is very different from the US. The observations about the country being older is true, and the area hardest hit also is a destination for foreigners who have homes there.

The biggest problem they have is when they shut down the country the population didn’t really go along with it. That created a much bigger rate of spread that overwhelmed their health care systems in the north and doubled the normal death rate.

That can happen here. But the numbers are encouraging that we may avoid the same kind of hole that Italy put themselves in. We’ll know more in a week or so.

[petegz28]

World wide the % of critical cases is still at 4%. 96% are mild. That's an important stat to be mindful of.