***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.”

[oaklandhater]

Emergency doctor at hospital in Brooklyn tells me situation is surreal and hard to believe you are in a hospital surrounded by sick dying patients in every corner. Many patients on ventilators or other breathing supports with terribly low oxygen levels are waiting for beds.

— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@NegarMortazavi) March 27, 2020

shit getting real bad in Ny

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by TLO

I do enjoy the "mostly" civil conversation on here though. It's typically much less alarmist than news sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I want to stay informed

Correct. Avoidance of the topic is not the key to reducing anxiety. The key is changing your expectations about reading the thread to be more based in reality.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by eDave

Yup. Becoming an alcoholic is real easy. Just takes a bit of initial dedication.

Tried like hell when I was in high school and the Navy. Didn't take.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

No idea. I don't really know her and they aren't saying. I'm not on social media and going just from text updates from someone that is.

Huh, seems odd but who knows. Could easily be a family member or visitor I suppose.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Tried like hell when I was in high school and the Navy. Didn't take.

Yea but you didn't have a miserable life like he has.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

Emergency doctor at hospital in Brooklyn tells me situation is surreal and hard to believe you are in a hospital surrounded by sick dying patients in every corner. Many patients on ventilators or other breathing supports with terribly low oxygen levels are waiting for beds.

— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@NegarMortazavi) March 27, 2020

shit getting real bad in Ny

I want your next post to be more positive.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by eDave

Yea but you didn't have a miserable life like he has.

Being a dirt poor married E-nothing living in Norfolk is the definition of misery. The only reason I didn't drink more is because I couldn't ****ing afford it.

[Monticore]

Just saw PSA up here about Coronavirus all the stay at home stuff, I am not racist but maybe not using someone from Asian decent would have more appropriate.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I want your next post to be more positive.

there is no news like bad news

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Being a dirt poor married E-nothing living in Norfolk is the definition of misery. The only reason I didn't drink more is because I couldn't ****ing afford it.

So you didn't REALLY try.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

there is no news like bad news

Try again.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Huh, seems odd but who knows. Could easily be a family member or visitor I suppose.

Small numbers are starting to come this way from the direction of Sioux Falls.
Guessing it's here and we're just starting to see the numbers.

I was in the grocery store tonight and the lady checking out in front of me put her debit card in the reader, punched in her pin, and then covered her mouth with that same hand while waiting for the transaction to complete. I was SMH.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by eDave

So you didn't REALLY try.

Yeah, I guess I did fall victim to that whole needing food and shelter bit.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Try again.

Midtown Atlanta cheering for healthcare workers at shift change. pic.twitter.com/YcMa1vrvLD

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 27, 2020

[RunKC]

Drew Brees is a great human being and I’ve always been a fan. I don’t cheer for any team but the Chiefs, but I will definitely cheer for Drew Brees or Larry Fitzgerald as long as they are not playing us.

Brittany and I are committing $5,000,000 to the State of Louisiana in 2020. The priority now is helping our communities get through this tough time.
After considerable research and conversations with local… https://t.co/Qmxzxses6X

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) March 26, 2020